BENGALURU: Karnataka’s home minister G Parameshwara took part in the multi-crore wedding of the daughter of former minister and mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy at Palace Grounds on Wednesday, raising eyebrows whether he represented the government or the Congress at the wedding or if it was his personal visit.
Cutting across party lines, senior leaders of major parties including former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa was seen at the wedding. Yeddyurappa, who once experienced trouble due to the storm created by Reddy was seen at the wedding on Tuesday evening as well as Wednesday morning.
Governor Vajubhai Vala also took part in the celebration. Congress leaders like energy minister D K Shivakumar, Congress MLC Kondaiah, a bitter rival of Reddy in Ballari also gave their blessings to the couple.
The participation of Prameshwara particularly has attracted the ire of critics especially in Bellary, where local people helped the authorities build a case against Reddy who was arrested in 2011 on charges of his alleged involvement in the illegal export of iron ore from Belekeri port on the west coast in Karnataka. Media reports suggested that Reddy had minted Rs 5,000 crore through iron ore mining in Bellary.
While majority of the cases were taken over by CBI, the state government formed Special Investigation Team(SIT)is still investigating illegal mining case against Reddy.
The government had formed the SIT based on Supreme Court directions which stated that the inquiry into the illegal mining case should be done by a SIT if the quantity of illegally mined ore was above Rs 50,000 tonnes. However, no chargesheet has been filed yet by the SIT.
The wedding widely rumoured to be budgeted at Rs 500 crore was also attended by Koppal Lok Sabha member Karadi Sanganna, Vijayanagara MLA Anand Singh, MLC Amarnath Patil and Ananthapur (Andhra Pradesh) Lok Sabha member Venkatarama Reddy.
Almost all central ministers stayed away from the wedding, however their family members attended the event.