Kalaburagi: Vijayendra, other BJP leaders stopped by Congress workers during visit to sand mining site
The Hindu
Tensions rise as Congress workers block BJP leaders inspecting alleged illegal sand mining in Chittapur, Kalaburagi district.
Tensions flared in Chittapur taluk of Kalaburagi district on Friday when Congress workers blocked BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra and other senior party leaders during their visit to the villages of Bagodi and Belagumpi in Chittapur to inspect sites of alleged illegal sand mining.
The visit was part of the BJP’s Janakrosh Yatra, aimed at highlighting the failures of governance and law enforcement under the Congress-led State government. Vijayendra and his delegation intended to examine unauthorised sand extraction operations reportedly involving thousands of tippers. The Chittapur constituency is represented by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge in the State Assembly.
Vijayendra, accompanied by Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and BJP chief whip in the Council N. Ravikumar, arrived at the site to assess the situation firsthand. However, moments after their arrival, a group of Congress workers raised slogans and attempted to prevent the leaders from proceeding with their inspection.
According to BJP leaders, large-scale illegal sand transportation—allegedly involving thousands of truckloads—has been ongoing for several days in the region. They accused the district administration and the Mines and Geology Department of turning a blind eye to the activity, alleging inaction and complicity.
Former MLA Rajkumar Patil Telkur briefed Mr. Vijayendra on what he termed “illegal sand mining supported by the nexus of district administration and mining mafia”. He also alleged that the district witnessed a rise in “goonda raj” alongside the illicit sand trade.
Apart from Vijayendra, the delegation included BJP general secretary P. Rajeev, MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu, Kalaburagi district BJP president Ashok Bagali, and several other party leaders.
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