Karnataks CM declares special session to discuss scams

A beleaguered B S Yeddyurappa, chief minister of Karnataka, on Sunday declared that he would convene a three-day special session of the state legislature to discuss the numerous mining scams that have allegedly taken place over the last 10 years.

"In recent days, Congress and JDS leaders have levelled baseless allegations against our government," Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bangalore, adding that he would not respond to any of the allegations levelled by the opposition parties till the beginning of the session, proposed in the first week of November. He said he would reply to all the charges then.

He said the session would have detailed discussions on "illegal scandals that are said to have happened in the 10 years". The opposition would be free to bring up any issue in the special session, while the government would come out with its own issues, he added.

Yeddyurappa said former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, senior leaders from various political parties, religious leaders and intellectuals would be invited to witness the session, which would be telecast live.

Yeddyurappa''s announcement on the session came on a day when the opposition Congress stepped up its attack on the government on the land scam issues allegedly involving Yeddyurappa and state information technology and biotechnology minister Katta Subramanya Naidu.

On Friday, Yedyurappa came out in support of Naidu after Naidu's son was arrested while allegedly bribing a witness in the KIADB scam.