It’s wrong to worship the corrupt: Justice Santosh Hegde

Ballari: While he did not name former minister D.K. Shivakumar, who returned to the city on Saturday to a rousing welcome by his supporters, former  Lokayukta, Justice Santosh Hegde, regretted that “someone” who had gone behind bars for a “wrongful reason” was receiving a grand reception.

Speaking to reporters, Justice Hegde, who was here to address the Catholic Yuva Jana Parishad convention,  said a  personality cult of honest people was fine, but it was wrong if the corrupt were worshiped.

" I don't want to take any names, but we are seeing it not only here, but in other places too. Instead of boycotting them, we are honouring them. We have to change such a society,"  he said in response to a question about those released from jail being given a grand welcome.

Stressing on the need to instill better values in  society to ensure that the people themselves started to work towards bringing in the change needed, he regretted, "Earlier society used to boycott the corrupt, but it is not the same today. We need to change this mindset of  society to accept a corrupt system. Greediness has increased among people and lust for power too. People with money power want to gain political power and once they get it, indulge in corrupt practices."

Justice Hegde also observed that no political party wanted a stronger Lokpal Bill today. "The Lokayukta was weakened in the state. How can an anti- corruption bureau, which works under a minister, be honest in delivering justice,” he asked.