BENGALURU: Facing flak for being appointed as the forest, environment and ecology minister, Anand Singh on Wednesday claimed he had not lobbied for the change from the food portfolio, saying it was done at the sole discretion of chief minister BS Yediyurappa.
"It was the CM who gave me the responsibility, I didn't ask for it. If anybody has any problem, let them ask the CM why he gave me this portfolio," Singh, a businessman with mining interests, told TOI.
He added that the chief minister was free to withdraw the portfolio given to him, if he wanted to. "I'm not particular about any portfolio. The CM first gave me the food & civil supplies ministry and later the forest ministry. He must have thought I'll manage the forest portfolio better," said Singh, who has over a dozen cases pending against him.
Singh's appointment has become controversial as there's a clear conflict of interest - there are several cases of illegal mining and forest violations pending against him. He was even arrested twice in connection with these cases.
Mining cases are like traffic offences: Singh
Singh’s election affidavit mentions the cases filed against him under various sections of Mines and Minerals Act and Karnataka Forest Act. “Yes, I have cases, including a forest offence case, pending against me,’’ Singh said, calling it a routine matter. Likening them to traffic violations, he said: “If you have a vehicle, there are bound to be cases of traffic violations. Similarly, my family has been in the mining business for generations and it’s natural that there are cases of forest rules violations.”
Singh’s cabinet colleagues — deputy CM Laxman Savadi and tourism minister CT Ravi — defended Yediyurappa’s decision to assign the forest portfolio to Singh. “Unless these cases are proved in a court of law, these remain mere allegations. So, it’s not fair to target Singh. Once charges are proved, the party will take action,” Savadi added.
“We have seen many people accused in cases but are ruled innocent by courts,” Ravi said.
Singh, assigned the food and civil supplies portfolio on Monday, was given the forest ministry after he reportedly expressed discontentment. Singh, who represents Vijayanagara (Hospete) constituency, hails from the mineral-rich district of Ballari.
He was tourism minister in Jagadish Shettar government from 2012-13 and was a close associate of former minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy. He joined the Congress ahead of the 2018 assembly elections. He resigned in July after he was denied being made minister in HD Kumarswamy’s cabinet before joining BJP to contest the bypolls in December.
Singh also owned SB Mineral in Ballari district and the Lokayukta had charged him with transporting 17,086 tonnes of iron ore without permission or valid licence. He was acquitted in one case pertaining to the alleged export of 1.3 lakh tonnes of iron ore from Belikeri port due to lack of evidence.
"It was the CM who gave me the responsibility, I didn't ask for it. If anybody has any problem, let them ask the CM why he gave me this portfolio," Singh, a businessman with mining interests, told TOI.
He added that the chief minister was free to withdraw the portfolio given to him, if he wanted to. "I'm not particular about any portfolio. The CM first gave me the food & civil supplies ministry and later the forest ministry. He must have thought I'll manage the forest portfolio better," said Singh, who has over a dozen cases pending against him.
Singh's appointment has become controversial as there's a clear conflict of interest - there are several cases of illegal mining and forest violations pending against him. He was even arrested twice in connection with these cases.
Mining cases are like traffic offences: Singh
Singh’s election affidavit mentions the cases filed against him under various sections of Mines and Minerals Act and Karnataka Forest Act. “Yes, I have cases, including a forest offence case, pending against me,’’ Singh said, calling it a routine matter. Likening them to traffic violations, he said: “If you have a vehicle, there are bound to be cases of traffic violations. Similarly, my family has been in the mining business for generations and it’s natural that there are cases of forest rules violations.”
Singh’s cabinet colleagues — deputy CM Laxman Savadi and tourism minister CT Ravi — defended Yediyurappa’s decision to assign the forest portfolio to Singh. “Unless these cases are proved in a court of law, these remain mere allegations. So, it’s not fair to target Singh. Once charges are proved, the party will take action,” Savadi added.
“We have seen many people accused in cases but are ruled innocent by courts,” Ravi said.
Singh, assigned the food and civil supplies portfolio on Monday, was given the forest ministry after he reportedly expressed discontentment. Singh, who represents Vijayanagara (Hospete) constituency, hails from the mineral-rich district of Ballari.
He was tourism minister in Jagadish Shettar government from 2012-13 and was a close associate of former minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy. He joined the Congress ahead of the 2018 assembly elections. He resigned in July after he was denied being made minister in HD Kumarswamy’s cabinet before joining BJP to contest the bypolls in December.
Singh also owned SB Mineral in Ballari district and the Lokayukta had charged him with transporting 17,086 tonnes of iron ore without permission or valid licence. He was acquitted in one case pertaining to the alleged export of 1.3 lakh tonnes of iron ore from Belikeri port due to lack of evidence.
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