The Telugu Desam Party on Friday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the "impending threat to democracy’’ from the mining mafia.TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu said likeminded parties would join to fight the mining mafia.
Naidu, who was here to seek cooperation of leaders to launch a united agitation against the mining mafia in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, met CPM leaders Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader A B Bardan and RLD leader Ajit Singh.
Naidu accused the owners of the Obulapuram Mining Company Gali Janardhan Reddy and his brothers of indulging in illegal mining activities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and dictating terms to politicians in both the states with the ``ill-gotten’’ money. He said the mining mafia was a threat to democracy.
Emerging out of the meeting with Karat, Naidu said, “We will be happy if the Prime Minister convenes an all-party meeting to discuss the issue. But if that does not happen, we will call an all-party meeting between December 7 and 10.” Naidu also demanded the review of the National Mining Policy.Yechuri said an action plan would be evolved to launch a nationwide joint agitation by the like-minded parties against the mining mafia.
Bardhan said mining mafia is a dangerous trend.
Pointing out recent political turmoil in Karnataka, RLD supremo Ajit Singh said the mining mafia is capable of subverting governments.