Chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday attempted to take the sting out of the Opposition by clearing the decks for the state Lok Ayukta to be empowered with suo motu powers to raid corrupt officials. But as this opens the doors to the prosecution of government officials while leaving chief ministers, ministers, legislators and public servants nominated by the government out of its ambit, leaving Lokayukta Justice N. Santosh Hegde fuming.
“I am disappointed. This is not what I bargained for,” he told this newspaper.
“They have given me only half the powers. I am not fully satisfied. The government has agreed to grant the Lok Ayukta suo motu powers to initiate action against Class One officers up to the level of chief secretary. But they have not included elected representatives such as the chief minister, Cabinet ministers, MLAs and MPs in the list of people against whom there can be suo motu action for official misconduct under the Lok Ayukta Act,” he said.
Not prepared to quit again, he said undeterred: “Let me try and at least exercise the powers given to me.” “We want the chief minister, ministers and legislators to come under the purview of the Lok Ayukta,” he said.