Bengaluru: At a press conference along with six other Congress legislators, Mr. Ugrappa said allegations made by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa against Mr. Siddaramaiah were “utterly false and baseless and aimed at destabilising the government”.

Congress leader V.S. Ugrappa, MLC, on Wednesday rebutted charges made by the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with regard to renewal of mining licences of eight companies. He said the licences were renewed as per the law.

Mr. Eshwarappa had alleged that there was a loss of over Rs. 1,000 crore to the State owing to renewal of licences without auction. The government had renewed licences without following due process of law, he had alleged.

Mr. Ugrappa said licences were renewed as per the Supreme Court directives, and guidelines of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.