“ If the ministers and MLAs are honest, then why are they hesitant to be probed by the
Lokayukta ?†This highly relevant question raised by Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde,
in a television interview, prompted this write-up.
The Lokayukta had in fact disappointed the people when he had recently said he was
satisfied by the government decision, soon after Yeddyurappa announced in the assembly
the issue pertaining to empowering the Lokayukta to take up voluntary investigation into
any case excluding those pertaining to the CM, ministers and MLAs.
The main reason for the disappointment is the stark reality that the menace of corruption
cannot be rooted out from our bureaucratic and administrative set up unless corruption
in ministerial and MLA level was not tackled with. There is no doubt that the Ministers
and MLAs are mainly responsible for the growing menace of corruption as it is they who
would fix a target for the officials and then do not mind transferring officials who fail to
heed to them.
If the CM keeps the MLAs and ministers outside the purview of the investigation of the
Lokayukta just because the latter made a demand in this regard, then what was the point
in him promising Justice Hegde to fulfill all his demands ?
In this context the statement of Hegde that there was no need for apprehension that the
Lokayukta would misuse the power in case it was entrusted with the power to enquire
even ministers and MLAs, gains relevance. No one is permanent in any posting, neither
the Lokayukta nor the CM and his legislators. What is more important is for those in the
administration to ensure transparency.
Let the CM even exclude officials from the purview of investigation of the Lokayukta.If
that is not suffice, let the assembly pass a resolution to dissolve the very institution of
Lokayukta.
The fact is that the very foundation of the BJP government is on corruption. The CM
as well as the ruling party has the fear that once corruption is rooted out, then the
government too would cease to exist.
Yeddyurappa by his decision has only made the Lokayukta a toothless snake. Even
Advani’s words have been let to wind and the withdrawal of Lokayukta resignation too
has now proved useless.
The CM has told at Shimoga on Saturday that he would have given all the powers to
the Lokayukta if he had the support of 150 MLAs. When the CM had personally met
the Lokayukta at his residence and had agreed to concede to all his demands, what
was the point in the CM convening a meeting of the opposition to seek their opinion ?
In fact the CM ought to have tabled in the House the amendment bill to the Lokayukta
bringing all elected representatives under the purview of the Lokayukta. Had the Bill
been disapproved, then those of the ruling and opposition, who opposed the same
would have faced the wrath of the public.
In reality none of the elected representatives including the CM want the Lokayukta to
keep an eye on them. Yeddyurappa missed an opportunity of making a historic decision
to bring all elected representatives under the purview of the Lokayukta.In case the Bill
was not passed, then he would have even got a golden opportunity to face fresh mandate
after tendering resignation. Yeddyurappa has missed a wonderful opportunity of freeing
himself of the clutches of the mine Reddys. In that case, the CM would have also freed
himself of the allegation that his was the most corrupt government the state had ever
seen.
Yeddyurappa’s present position is courtesy his wish to stick to power somehow. He still
has opportunities to save himself from the present situation.
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