Misfortune falls on those who refuse to pick up the gauntlets thrown at them by their rivals in politics, enemies in life or adversaries in love. Indira Gandhi had put this universal truth rather succinctly when she said soon after Bangladesh war that for those seeking justice success happens only when they refuse to surrender and fight till the end.

I think the time has come for Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa not to surrender either to the opposition or to the BJP honchos like national Vice - President and former party in - charge of Karnataka Shantha Kumar, L. K. Advani or Anantha Kumar. As for Shantha Kumar, he was speaking through his hat at Panaji on Sunday, the 24th of July, 2011, baying for Yeddyurappa's head. Probably he knows as little or nothing about Karnataka politics like the former IB Chief M. K. Narayanan during Indira Gandhi's time.

Now, the opposition parties — Congress and JD (S) — have got a new, more powerful weapon in their armoury in the form of Lokayukta report on illegal mining. Not mining per se; only illegal mining. Add to this problem of Yeddyurappa, the BJP "in - house enemies" like Anantha Kumar, L. K. Advani and Shantha Kumar, with an "holier than thou" attitude, talking about Parivar - tantra (family politics) replacing Loktantra (democracy) to taunt and make fun of Yeddyurappa.

If Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi has a Parivar - tantra, if JD (S) supremo H. D. Deve Gowda has a Parivar - tantra, if NCP President Sharad Pawar has a Parivar - tantra and many other political leaders, with political and business ambitions, have Parivar - tantra, why not Yeddyurappa? It is neither illegal nor immoral. It could be amoral, at worst.

Well, one cannot wish away the family (Parivar - tantra) simply because one is in politics and has occupied a high position. Of course, one should not indulge in crony capitalism or nepotism. Here, the charge is that Yeddyurappa is practicing these evils to benefit his family. But, prove it in a court of law. After all, what one does, whether Sonia Gandhi or Yeddyurappa, should be within the ambit of the law of the land. Which is why it is the cardinal principle in law that howsoever high you are, law is above you. Why fret and fume?

If the Congress party Spokesman Manish Tiwari thinks that Yeddyurappa is the “Cauvery of Corruption”, then it can also be said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is the “Ganges of Corruption”, what with three of his coalition colleagues in jail, as also some bureaucrats.

Just as the BJP at the Centre yesterday demanded the resignation of Dr. Manmohan Singh and P. Chidambaram following the allegations by the jailed former Telecom Minister A. Raja, the opposition in Karnataka too is asking for Yeddyurappa's resignation on the allegations made in the leaked Lokayukta report. Are we to believe, the resignations will follow for the asking in both the cases? I think the ethical and legal position in this regard is that neither the BJP at Delhi, nor the opposition in Karnataka is justified in asking for the resignations.

As for the "mining scam," illegal or legal, it is time both the Central and State governments listened to the wiser counsel of our Chief Justice of the Supreme Court S. H. Kapadia and resonate positively to all his suggestions made at an international seminar on “Global environment and disaster management: Law and society” in New Delhi.

Voicing concern over the violation of mining rules, Justice Kapadia on Sunday, the 24th of July, 2011 suggested that there should be a price regulatory mechanism for mineral exports as several private companies in the State were flouting norms and depriving the government of huge royalty.

"Take the case of royalty. Time has come when the excavated minerals should be auctioned or have price discovery mechanism. You have cross - border arms length pricing, but do not have domestic arms length pricing. The result is under invoicing," Justice Kapadia said.

Is it not for the Centre to bring in guidelines or legislation in this regard?

Yeddyurappa was treading, metaphorically speaking, on land mines in the matter of mining of ores in Bellary and other parts of Karnataka from the day he became CM. It was for this very reason he has been making many suggestions to the Centre in this regard. Specially, when Reddy brothers became an albatross around his neck. Not surprisingly, the Centre failed to resonate because the fingers of every political party is in this mining pie, as could be seen from the very 'damaging' report of the Lokayukta about the illegal mining where the names of not only Yeddyurappa and his three Ministers figure, but also that of H. D. Kumaraswamy of JD (S), Union Minister S. M. Krishna and Anil Laad of the Congress.

In what way and to what extent they are involved in the scams will be known tomorrow when Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde officially submits the report. And a question: Why did Hegde admit before the media that whatever was leaked of his report was correct? A leak is illegal. Hence, he could have refused to answer the media question by merely saying, as a courtesy: “My friends have patience till it is officially submitted”. Let it be.

Therefore, let us wait. If Yeddyurappa is guilty, he must quit gracefully, making way for his successor or recommend dissolution of the Assembly and go to people's court for ultimate justice.

As for the opposition, this is the last opportunity for them to dislodge Yeddyurappa with the hope that it will help them to succeed in the next election. It does not matter to the opposition who succeeds Yeddyurappa for the simple reason that whoever succeeds will be like what R. Gundu Rao was to Congress in 1983. The end of BJP in the next election.