SM Krishna pins hopes on judiciary after FIR in mining scam

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister SM Krishna on Thursday said he had no role in issuance of licences for mining as chief minister and expressed confidence that the judiciary will put to rest "unholy attempts" at his character assassination.

Krishna was reacting to reports of FIR filed in connection with the mining scam in Karnataka.

"I find from media reports that a private complaint has been filed in the Hon'ble Court dealing with Lokayukta cases in Bangalore. I am given to understand that allegations have been made against me, two other ex-chief ministers and a number of officers," he said in a statement.

He said while his legal team would take "appropriate action at the appropriate time", he considered it necessary to clarify matters as "silence on my part would give rise to speculation". "I wish to point out that I never retained the portfolio of mines and geology. Further, to the best of my knowledge, no mining licence was issued during my tenure," he said.

"Even if such licences were issued, this would have been done by the competent authority of the mines and geology department," the minister said, adding "in view of the above there is no wrongful loss to government. Consequently, there can be no wrongful gain."

Krishna, who had served as Karnataka chief minister from 1999 to 2003, said "there has been no de-reservation of forests, as being incorrectly reported."

He said the cabinet had sometime in 2003 decided to de-reserve mineral wealth for mining. "Government is fully empowered to take such a decision as per the Minerals Concession Rules, 1960," he said.