Hegde turns down BJP request to stay on

Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde is unmoved by the ruling BJP’s appeal on Friday to withdraw his resignation.

Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde is unmoved by the ruling BJP’s appeal on Friday to withdraw his resignation.

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The party has assured him the state government is planning to probe illegal mining activities in the state. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had also requested him to stay on.

Hegde has announced his resignation with effect from August 31, accusing the state of being indifferent towards the office of the Lokayukta.

This development occurred a day before BJP chief Nitin Gadkari is expected to arrive here and hold talks with ministers ahead of a rally.

State BJP chief K.S. Eshwarappa, Home Minister V.S. Acharya and Law Minister Suresh Kumar met Hegde, asking him to reconsider. “We have told him that the state government would act strongly against illegal mining,” Eshwarappa said.

CM B.S. Yeddyurappa is considering a probe into the state’s illegal mining from 2003, he said.

Hegde’s action has found support from his Bihar counterpart R.N. Prasad. “I endorse the resignation of Hegde. There is no justification for continuing in the office of Lokayukta if one fails to get a positive response from the state government,” he said.