ANI
Marking a major political development in Karnataka after merging his party with the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2024, Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) leader and mining tycoon G Janardhana Reddy on Monday said he was happy to be back with the party that he considers his 'home'.
After being formally inducted into the BJP on Monday, Reddy while speaking to reporters said, "In the interest of the country and support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bid to return to office for a third straight term, I chose to return to the BJP. It does feel good to be back home. I will faithfully discharge whatever responsibility the party vests in me. I will campaign for all our Lok Sabha candidates (in the state)."
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha leader G Janardhana Reddy merges his party with BJP.
— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2024
He says, "In the interest of the nation and to support PM Modi to become a third-time Prime Minister, I have joined BJP. I have come back to my home...I will carry… pic.twitter.com/ojYBciFFvq
Reddy rejoined the BJP today by merging his party Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP), in the presence of the state president BY Vijayendra, BJP veteran politician and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, and others, he joined the party alongside his wife Aruna Lakshmi and other individuals.
Reddy had been mostly out of politics for about 12 years before last year's assembly elections when the CBI had arrested him for allegedly being involved in a mining scam.
On September 5, 2011, the CBI detained Reddy and his brother-in-law, BV Srinivas Reddy, managing director of the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC).
Reddy has been out on bail since 2015, he has been keeping his distance from the BJP.
The allegations against Janardhana Reddy revolve around illegal mining activities, including encroachment of forest land, violation of mining norms, and environmental degradation. It was alleged that Reddy's companies were involved in large-scale illegal mining operations, causing significant damage to the environment. He was accused of changing mining lease boundary markings and indulging in illegal mining in the Ballari Reserve Forest area, spread over Ballari in Karnataka and the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The same case in which the former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa was arrested and imprisoned.
In 2011, the then Karnataka Lokayukta (ombudsman) Santosh Hegde released a report on illegal mining in the state. The report highlighted rampant corruption and illegalities in the mining sector, implicating several politicians and officials, including Janardhana Reddy.
Following the Lokayukta report, Janardhana Reddy was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in September 2011. He was charged with various offenses, including illegal mining, conspiracy, and bribery.
The legal proceedings against Janardhana Reddy have been ongoing for years. He has faced multiple charges and spent time in judicial custody. The case has seen various twists and turns, including bail petitions and appeals.
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