By IANS,
Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Thursday indicated he will not ask Lokayukta (ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde to withdraw his resignation, submitted Wednesday expressing frustration at the government’s indifference to the anti-corruption panel.
Yeddyurappa virtually bid goodbye to Hegde, a retired Supreme Court judge, saying: “I thank him for the good work”.
“Now that he has taken a decision, I do not want to embarrass him in any way,” Yeddyurappa said when asked whether he would try to persuade Hegde to take back the resignation.
Hegde submitted his resignation letter to Governor H.R. Bhardwaj Wednesday asking him to accept it with effect Aug 31, a year ahead of the end of his five-year term.
Later Hegde told a press conference that he was leaving frustrated at the government “ignoring, over-ruling and being indifferent to his suggestions (to check corruption).”
Yeddyurappa rebutted Hegde’s statements that little action has been taken on several of his suggestions.
“I have given you delicate hints of the actions we have taken… I will give more details in the assembly during the session beginning June 28,” Yeddyurappa said after reeling out the issues and dates on which he has acted.
“He is a senior person, was a Supreme Court judge. He has taken a decision. I do not want to embarrass him. I am not really interested in discussing this issue further,” he repeated on the issue of whether he will talk to Hegde to withdraw his resignation.
“On my behalf and on behalf of the government I congratulate him as he has taken some revolutionary actions, for the good work he has done. The nation needs such honest people and honest actions,” Yeddyurappa said.
He said it was unfortunate that Hegde’s decision to quit has come two days ahead of the ‘Sadhana Samavesha’ (convention on achievements) his government is organising here Friday to mark the completion of two years in office. Yeddyurappa assumed power in May 2006.
“This has pained me,” Yeddyurappa added.
He blasted the opposition parties for attacking his government for not granting Lokayukta ‘suo motu’ powers, that is to initiate action against the corrupt on his own.
“The opposition did not have an issue (to raise in the assembly). Now they have one,” he said sarcastically.
“I say with confidence that we have implemented 90 percent of Lokayukta’s suggestions, unlike previous governments. We have not taken back any powers,” he asserted.
On ‘suo motu’ powers, Yeddyurappa said: “I ask opposition parties why they did not grant it when they were in power all these years.”
Obviously irritated at repeated questions on this issue, Yeddyurappa hit back “I am not a dictator. This has to be discussed in the cabinet which can take a decision. However I have an open mind on it. I am not in a position to say anything more,” he added.