Report authentic: CM

BANGALORE: Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda strongly defended the government’s report to the CEC on the role of three former chief ministers in the alleged irregularities in illegal mining in the state.Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Gowda refuted charges of his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa that the state government did not give a complete and true report on the former CMs — S M Krishna, H D Kumaraswamy and Dharam Singh.“The report is authentic. Appropriate information has been sent to the CEC. The same report was also submitted to the Lokayukta. Since there is no Lokayukta, the report was returned to the government,” he said.The CM’s statements came a day after Yeddyurappa criticised the government on the government’s expediency in sending a report against him while treading soft on three former CMs. Excise Minister M P Renukacharya too reiterated the former CM’s charges.On the BJP national executive meet, Gowda said issues pertaining to politics, corruption, agriculture and elections were discussed.When the Cabinet meeting began, ministers supporting Yeddyurappa sought explanation from the CM on the government’s report to the CEC on three former CMs. Sources said that Basavaraj Bommai, Umesh Katti and V Somanna walked in with a copy of the CEC letter and demanded why complete information on the three former CMs had not been provided to the CEC.The CM said that the government would add any missing information and submit a revised report.