Modi govt is shielding Reddy brothers: Cong

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of shielding the Reddy brothers in Karnataka through a “Central Bureau of Investigation-manufactured clean chit” in the illegal mining scam, alleging that the “mockery of justice” took place after BS Yeddyurappa was declared the Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial candidate in the state. Talking to reporters here, Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said the “scam was established” by the then Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, but still the BJP had given several tickets to “Reddy Brothers and associates”. Bhalki is a dusty town in Northern Karnataka’s Bidar district which borders Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Historically it was known as the place where during the 1857 war of independence, Madho Rao a follower of Tantiya Tope and a nephew of Shahu Chattrapati, the Maharaja of Satara, was arrested.

Modern day Bhalki, though, is known for its Khandres. Since 1962, of the 12 elections that have taken place for assembly, 10 have been won by a member of the extended Khandre family. Except for the1972 and the 1985 elections, every other election has had a winner from the Khandre family.

That doesn’t mean the Khandres are united. Cousins Eshwar Khandre and Prakash Khandre, representing the Congress and the BJP respectively have been crossing swords for the last two decades (each has won twice). This time, after Prakash Khandre was denied a ticket by the SBJP, he jumped to the JD(S) and is now its candidate, trying to unseat his incumbent cousin.