An old tune is boring to hear, says krishna

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External affairs minister S.M. Krishna was decidedly cool about the state government's decision to submit a revised report to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on the role of three former chief ministers, including himself, in illegal mining.

Speaking to media men on the sidelines at his meeting with German counterpart Guido Westerwelle, Mr Krishna said questions about his involvement in illegal mining were like listening to an “old tune”.

“It is boring to hear it again and again. I have answered the question many times,” he said when asked about the revised report which states that Karnataka incurred losses of over Rs700 crore between 1999 and 2007.

Mr Krishna said he would stand by the decision of his cabinet to de-reserve tracts of ore-bearing land for mining operations.

“We took a policy decision. I stand by the decision taken by my cabinet. I was a part of the cabinet and I was leading that cabinet. I stand by that decision,” he added.

The revised report sent to the Supreme Court-appointed CEC states, “Mysore Minerals Ltd. has suffered a revenue loss amounting to Rs714.54 crore between 1999 and 2007 during the tenure of S.M. Krishna, Dharam Singh and H.D. Kumaraswamy.”

The CEC had asked the state government for its opinion following charges of involvement levelled against the former chief ministers by social activist T.J. Abraham. Mr Krishna also ruled out the possibility of his return to state politics.