Dehradun, March 30 -- BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt on Sunday praised the Uttarakhand government for its strict action against illegal mining, saying it has helped increase the state's mining revenue from Rs 300 crore to over Rs 1,000 crore.

Speaking about the rise in revenue, Bhatt said, "Our revenue from mining in Uttarakhand has increased significantly. Earlier, it was around Rs 300 crore, but today, it has exceeded Rs 1,000 crore. What does this mean? It means that when theft stops and illegal activities are curbed, revenue naturally rises. I congratulate the Chief Minister for this achievement."

He also slammed the previous Congress government, suggesting that illegal mining was rampant under its rule. "Just...