Lokayukta ouster: Congress backs Opposition
Congress legislators would submit a petition to remove the Lokayukta
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-11-21 07:14 GMT
BENGALURU: Realising that voices for the ouster of Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao were growing, the ruling Congress on Friday announced that it would back the move made by the Opposition in the Legislature for ouster of the anti-corruption ombudsman.
The decks are now cleared for a full fledged debate on the subject in the Assembly on Monday. Following in the footsteps of the BJP and JD(S) which have submitted a motion seeking Justice Rao’s removal, Congress legislators will present their motion. After the discussion, the motion if approved, will be forwarded to the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court for action.
The Opposition did not take kindly to the belated move of the ruling party to join the campaign for the Ayukta’s ouster with BJP MLA C.T. Ravi saying the delay had created a feeling that some people in the government were trying to protect Justice Bhaskar Rao.
Ruling Congress set to join Ayukta ouster chorus:
A call from CM Siddaramaiah that legislators of ruling Congress, too, would back the petition for ouster of Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao prompted Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa to schedule a discussion on the issue in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Announcing the government’s decision, Mr Kagodu Thimmappa said Congress legislators would submit a petition to remove the Lokayukta. The issue would be discussed on Monday and after passage of the motion, it would be forwarded to the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court for further action. This decision of the ruling party, however, evoked a mixed response from the Opposition.
While leader of Opposition Mr Jagadish Shettar welcomed the move, another Mr C T Ravi, also BJP, said the delay in Congress legislators joining hands with the Opposition to oust the Lokayukta had created a feeling that some people in the government were trying to protect Justice Bhaskar Rao. When law minister T B Jayachandra objected to such remarks, Mr Ravi said “let us get the telephone conversation records of Justice Bhaskar Rao and see who he was he was talking to when the Opposition sought his removal during the previous session in Belagavi.” Mr Thimmappa intervened saying the members should not enter into arguments at this juncture.
Sources in Congress attributed the 11th hour change of stand by party legislators on Friday as an impression gained ground that if they keep away, their stand would send a wrong signal on campaign against corruption. Besides, they got an update on the case from SIT chief Mr Kamal Pant who attended a meeting. The senior police officer reportedly told all-party members that two charge sheets filed by SIT in court directly indict Justice Bhaskar Rao's son Ashwin Rao. Though there were no direct allegations against Justice Bhaskar Rao, telephonic conversations and dealing which reportedly took place in his official residence cast a shadow on him.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.