Bengaluru: Verbal spat between Mandya MP, Sumalatha Ambareesh, and former Chief Minister H.D.Kumaraswamy over illegal mining in Mandya district gets an ugly turn with later had threatened to release audio clipping of her. 

After her visit to Bebibetta in Panadavapura and Chennahkere, Hugarahalli in Srirangapatna taluk where the illegal stone quarry is operating, verbal spat get an ugly turn, former Chief Minister H.D.Kumaraswamy slammed her visit to Mandya and alleged that she might have visited mining site to collect money. He reiterated his statement of asking her to sleep in front of the gates of Krishna Raj Sagar (KRS) reservoir in Mandya district. “I will not seek apology for my statement. There is nothing wrong with my statement. I have not made any mistakes. I knew how to use Kannada words. When I was the Chief Minister in 2018, I ordered stopping illegal mining in the vicinity of the KRS dam. Did I told anyone to start illegal mining in Mandya” he questioned. 

Further, Mr. Kumaraswamy recalled the death episode of actor turned politician Ambareesh. “Sumalatha did not want to bring mortal remains of Ambareesh to Mandya, but I convinced her and brought mortal remains of Ambareesh to Mandya,” he said. 

He further criticized her for doing smart ‘acting in politics’ like she is doing on screen. Do people have elected her to supervise illegal mining? Kumaraswamy questioned. 

Sumalatha countered that “Kumaraswamy himself is a smart actor than any other film actor. Why should I not visit illegal mining, why he is so much disturbed by my visit to illegal mining site”, she said. 

Sumalatha urges CBI enquiry into illegal mining

On the other hand, Sumalatha has visited illegal stone crushing units, but her visit did not go well with Mandya JD(S) leaders and made a scathing attack against her. Srirangapatna JD(S) MLA, Ravindra Srikantaiah, Malavalli MLA, Annadani, Melukote, MLA, C.S. Puttaraju condemned her visit to illegal stone crushing units. 

Mr. Srikantaiah said that if any illegal mining is going, let Sumalath make it legal; further, he alleged that Mr. Ambareesh had supported illegal mining in Mandya when he was MP. 

After visiting illegal mining units, Sumalatha told media persons that prominent persons are involved in illegal mining. Under Benami's name, illegal mining is rampant in the district, but no is talking about illegal mining, she said. 

Sumalatha has given a fitting reply to Kumaraswamy. “Why Kumaraswamy is so much disturbed with my visit to illegal mining unit,” she countered. 

Further, Sumalatha said that more than “500 mining trucks are passing through in Hangarahalli, which led to health hazards to the people. I have seen illegal mining during my single visit; why Kumaraswamy did not see illegal mining in the district,” she questioned. 

Sumalatha further demanded CBI enquiry into illegal mining in the district. She urged the chief minister to hand over CBI enquiry into illegal mining. 

Her visit to an illegal mining site had irked JD(S) leaders. "If Sumalatha provokes Devegowda family, her political carrier will be finished in the district,” Malavalli JD(S) MLA, Annadani warned. 

Mr. Srikanatiah, after visiting the KRS dam, said that there is no crack in the dam, he cited the report of the KRS dam engineer. Further, he termed Sumalatha as notorious behaviour and he challenged if she shows any crack in the dam, he will resign to his MLA membership.  

Meanwhile, Sumalatha demanded the state government to order a CBI enquiry to probe crack in the KRS dam. Are they MLAs or terrorists? She asked Ravindra Srikanataiah and Annadani for their low-level remarks against her. 

The spat between Mandya MP and JD(S) leaders seems not to be stopped. MP’S statement on illegal mining has irked JDS top leaders and made a combined attack against her. Now JD(S) leaders have threatened to release audio clippings of Sumalatha and are also talking about video clippings. Sumalatha dared them to release the documents against her.