Firing yet another salvo at BJP government in Karnataka governor H R Bhardwaj on Monday said he was not satisfied with chief minister B S Yedyurappa's reply to his two letters about corruption charges against him and his ministers.

"I am not satisifed by the reply given by the chief minister on the questions I raised over allegations of corruption, illegal mining and land scams", Bhardwaj said, a day after Yeddyurappa despatched his missive to the governor in response to the two letters he wrote on December 15.

Dismissing the contents of Yedyurappa's reply as only a "defence" and not indicative of "action", Bhardwaj, who seemed to be have been irked by its tone and tenor, said "No, I am not satisfied. Let me tell you".

Speaking to reporters here, he hit back at BJP leaders who have been critical of his actions.

Bhardwaj said "I had posed two fundamental questions which are still on my mind and are causing me lot of mental tension. Instead of being obliged to me for pointing out what it needs to be done for the welfare of the people, they are criticising me".

"The first question was when I found ministers in this government are indulging in illegal mining and making crores and crores of rupees by depriving the people of the state of their dues and from the government exchequer. The matter is serious. Any individual citizen can be immediately dealt with by the law enforcement agency but nothing moves against powerful people. This is what is being demonstrated by the country", Bhardwaj said.

"The second thing is about the ministers indulging in corruption. I do not have any information, it is what I have I read in the newspapers. I have received representation form the NGOs and the media. Can I ignore ministers making crores and crores of rupees?...it is for the government to find out the wrong doings", he said.

"Let him deny it, let him say anything, law will take its own course", Bhardwaj said in a veiled warning that he would contemplate further action on these issues.

Speaking out his mind, he said "I only write to my chief minister for whom I have regard as a person. When I write, I receive no reply. I send reminders. Many people say governor is 'pro-active, he is a Congress agent' and lots of things, but let me tell you nothing is going to deter me from coming to the conclusion that I am entitled to and seeking information. I have every right to seek information under the constitution".

Obviously unhappy with reply, Bhardwaj said "it is only a two-line cryptic reply instead of telling what action has been inititated".

He said Yeddyurappa had only offered defence taking a stand that the allegations against him are "baseless" and there was no illegal mining in the state.

To a question on BJP state unit president K S Eshwarappa's tirade against him and his challenge to Bhardwaj to contest the upcoming ZP and TP polls, Bhardwaj retorted "we are talking on matter of principle not on individual".

On whether he would write a more stern letter as he was not satisfied with the reply, Bhardwaj said "I am studying the situation".

The state government expects the Governor to be a "ceremonial body with eyes and ears closed. This is not acceptable", Bhardwaj asserted.

After being reminded by Bhardwaj, Yedyurappa had replied to his letters in which the governor had raised corruption charges against the chief minister and illegal mining, apparently targeting ministers and mining magnates K Janardhana Reddy, K Karunakara Reddy and their close associate B Sreeramulu.

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K'taka CM responds to guv

After being told by governor H R Bhardwaj not to ignore corruption charges against him and his ministers, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday defended himself against allegations in land scams and also the Reddy brothers regarding their mining interests.

In a tersely worded response to the governor's two letters, Yeddyurappa said he had not indulged in any irregularities in denotification of land.

He also claimed denotification of land had also taken place during the regime of JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy and even then there were reports of alleged irregularities, sources in the chief minister's office said.

The governor had on December 15 shot off two letters to Yeddyurappa asking him to send a detailed report on the land scams allegedly involving his family members and also what action had been taken to stop illegal mining, with specific reference to the Reddy brothers--Janardhana and Karunakara, who are ministers and mining magnates.

The governor had also accused the BJP government of turning a "blind eye" to corruption charges against it.

Apparently trying to turn the tables on the union government and also the governor, Yeddyurappa urged Bhardwaj to join hands with the state government in its effort to curb illegal mining and ask the centre also to ban export of iron ore.

"We are sure if proper cooperation and support is extended by the government of India for the measures suggested by the state government, it will go a long way in curbing illegal mining and increase revenue to the state," he said.

Yeddyurappa, in his response, has stated in a veiled manner that the governor's missive had been based on Kumaraswamy's complaint and that his actions were prompted by the latter, the sources said.

The sources said Yeddyurappa also clarified that the land alloted to his son and daughter had been returned.

On the issue of allotment of 'G' category landsite using discretionary powers, Yeddyurappa said he would follow the recent high court order and stop such allotment, sources said.

In response to Bhardwaj seeking clarification on the business interests of three Bellary ministers--the Reddy brothers and their close associate, Sreeramulu--he defended them saying their transactions are in accordance with the law, sources said.

Yeddyurappa also informed the governor that the three ministers did not own any mining licence in Karnataka, sources said.

The governor had hit out at Yeddyurappa for failing to take any action over the land scam and mining controversies and had directed him to respond to his letters quickly.

Yeddyurappa asserted in his letter that his government has issued several circulars and notifications to curb illegal mining and these measures were even challenged by some aggrieved mines owners.

On governor's references to the three Bellary ministers, Yeddyurappa said "The ministers have nothing to do with the business of the government and it pertained to their individual business activity. However, a copy of your letter has been forwarded to the concerned ministers".

Yeddyurappa further said "it is clarified that the ministers referred to in your letter do not have any subsisting contract with government.I request you to kindly refer to my earlier detailed replies sent on July 13 and today and the same may be perused to avoid any repetition".