Make illegal mining report public: BJP dares Cong

BJP`s deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Gopinath Munde, claimed here today that the report was ready, but ruling Congress feared its possible impact ahead of the March 3 assembly polls.

"There is no other reason for them to keep the report on the back burner," said Munde, here to address campaign rallies. Justice Shah Commission has been investigating the multi- crore illegal mining, involving illegal extraction as well as evasion of export royalties.

Munde said that the Commission, it was understood, had already submitted its final report. "Some parts of the report were aired on a private channel. Union government will have to either accept or refute what was aired," he said, alleging that several Congressmen from the state were involved in illegal mining rackets.

Saying that illegal mining had become a major poll issue, he said, "Congress cannot escape responding to the allegations levelled against its leaders in the scam."