While the illegal mining issue gave the Opposition, as a whole, the proverbial stick to beat the ruling party with, it is Leader of Opposition Siddaramiah who appears to be the man of the moment. MiD DAY's BV Shiva Shankar and Aditya Anand ask the leader how he expects the political situation to shape up in the days ahead

The Congress, the principal opposition party, was largely being criticised for being inactive. The party is seemed to have woken up with the illegal mining issue. Why did you wait for so long?
It is incorrect to say that we were sleeping all these days or that we have woken up suddenly over the mining issue. We have also been raising issues like shortcomings in flood relief and power shortage that are dogging the development of the state. However, the government has not been responding to questions raised by us and the debates were being wasted on the ruling party. When we decided to hold a dharna over illegal mining, it became effective because the Lokayukta had resigned over the issue.
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Your party members raised the illegal mining issue earlier but it was not effective. Do you think expect it to be more effective this time because you believe you have a cleaner image?
It's not fair to say I alone am responsible for this. It's a collective effort of our party and the JD(S). I must give credit to each and every member of the Opposition, who stood firm on our side to oppose illegal mining in the state.

If that is the case, why is the Congress not joining the JD (S) padayatra?
Our association with the JD (S) can be limited to floor co-ordination in the house and for political reasons we cannot go together everywhere. After all, it is an individual political party. Let it fight on its own strength. Meanwhile, we have our own plans to take on the ruling party.
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What about Congress leaders alleged to be involved in illegal mining?
First of all, you have to see who is levelling the allegations. Janardana Reddy is just making a counter-allegation after we demanded a CBI probe into the illegal mining issue. I demand he explain why he kept quiet for two years.

He is after all the minister in-charge of the district. Why is he pointing fingers at the Congress now? If he says, Congress leaders are involved, let him agree to a CBI enquiry and let everyone be probed.

The ruling party says it wants the Lokayukta to institute the probe, as the CBI has lost its credibility.
By saying this, they are hitting the very credibility of the Lokayukta. They are chanting the mantra of Lokayukta only after Santosh Hedge took back his resignation saying his father figure convinced him. Please tell me, how one can believe the probe would be fair after this.

Moreover, the Reddys have their operations in foreign countries, including Singapore, Indonesia and Dubai. The Lokayukta's purview on the other hand is limited to the state.

More importantly, Janardan Reddy, Karunakar Reddy, and Sriramulu are ministers and ministers are kept out of the purview of the Lokayukta.

Will you talk about other issues with illegal mining during the padayatra?
Yes. Isn't that obvious? While illegal mining is the main issue, other issues like faulty flood relief operations, shortage of power and drinking water, corruption in the government and the controversial bills passed amidst the din of the Assembly will also be highlighted.
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There is a suspicion that the Congress raised the illegal mining issue at the behest of a section of BJP only to corner Reddys.
This is ridiculous! We are levelling charges against the CM's kin who are involved in illegal mining and we are holding him responsible for the whole thing. Where is the question of helping anyone in the ruling party?
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The BJP seems to be divided on the issue. What are your plans to take the advantage of that?
We need not take advantage of any situation. The Congress does not believe in such politics. It is evident that groups inside the BJP are competing for power against each other. Any party, where such things occur, is bound to be divided and is surely headed for collapse. This does not concern us in any way.