Hegde reconsidering Lokpal Bill panel role

Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde today said he was reconsidering his decision to be on the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill, apparently upset over the vilification campaign against the anti-graft panel.

“I will first discuss the issue with my colleagues and take a decision based on it,” Hegde, who reluctantly agreed to be on the Lokpal committee due to pending work, said here. The former Supreme Court Judge, known for his campaign against corruption, said the current vilification campaign had put him off.

“Everything stinks,” he said referring to “the manner in which the vilification campaign first went against Hazare, then against Bhushans,” Hegde, who is due to retire in August as Lokayukta, said, “The anti-corruption crusade has unnerved some sections. Nobody expected Hazare to get the response he did,” he said.

“There is no doubt an attempt to derail the anti-corruption crusade,” Hegde, whose name was initially suggested along with that of former Supreme Court Chief Justice J S Verma to be the panel head by Hazare, said. Responding to allegations that he was only taking action against others and not against Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is facing allegations of corruption, he said, “There is no one who has fought Yeddyurappa, the way I have. My hands are tied, yet I have taken action, issued notices, sought explanation.”

“If I was not interested I would have transferred the case to the commission,” he said. The government has set up a commission of inquiry to probe the alleged land scams involving Yeddyurappa and his family. Asked about his opinion on the Bhushans continuing to be on the panel in the wake of allegations against them and the CD controversy, he said, “I leave it to them.” He said there were two opinions on the genuineness of the CD, “hence it was difficult to comment.”

He wondered why the controversial CD was not brought to public notice earlier. “What is the point of time this controversy has actually taken place and the time when this has been released to the press? What is the objective of this,” he asked.