‘BJP for lokpal, not lokayukta’

Former Karnataka Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde on Sunday accused the BJP of hypocrisy on the issue of fighting corruption. Although the BJP publicly supported the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in Parliament, where it is the main opposition, its state government in Karnataka was yet to appoint a new Lokayukta, Hegde said on Saturday. HT reports.

Former Karnataka Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde on Sunday accused the BJP of hypocrisy on the issue of fighting corruption. Although the BJP publicly supported the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in Parliament, where it is the main opposition, its state government in Karnataka was yet to appoint a new Lokayukta, Hegde said on Saturday.

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Hegde’s term ended on August 2 and former Supreme Court judge Shivaraj V Patil succeeded him. However, Patil quit on September 19 following allegations of illegal land acquisition. Since then the government has not appointed a new Lokayukta.

The BJP government had recommended the name of Kerala high court judge SR Bannumath. But governor HR Bhardwaj rejected the nomination stating that Bannumath does not have a clean record.

Hegde's report on illegal mining scam on July 27 had led to the fall of the first BJP government in the state, headed by BS Yeddyurappa, on July 31. Hegde recommended Yeddyurappa's trial for corruption in the illegal scam.

On Saturday, Hegde accused the government of deliberately delaying the appointment, as "it does not want the implementation of the report".

Addressing a huge gathering at the Freedom Park, Hazare said: “Bring Lokpal or go away.”

With inputs from agencies.