Congress tries hard to discredit the Lokayukta

BANGALORE: The Congress on Monday turned its wrath on Lokayukta Justice Santosh N Hegde, a member of the drafting committee of the Lokpal Bill, saying he is doing the BJP government in Karnataka a favour by not acting against those involved in bribery and corruption.
"Why has he not probed corruption charges against chief minister B S Yeddyurappa? Why is he delaying the second report on illegal mining?'' asked All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary B K Hariprasad at a news conference here.
Claiming that illegal mining is bigger than the 2G scam, Hariprasad alleged that Justice Hegde has developed a soft corner for the BJP government and it was apparent when he withdrew his resignation following the intervention of L K Advani in July 2010. "How can a person fairly investigate the misdemeanours of a party when he has a high regard for its supremo?,'' he asked, referring to Justice Hegde calling Advani a 'father figure'.
Justice Hegde declined to comment on these allegations: "I will not respond to political statements.''
Doubting the credentials of other members of civil society on the Jan Lokpal Bill panel, Hariprasad said none of them has the right to make political statements or has any moral right to speak against the social menace when their integrity has been under scanner.
Calling yoga guru Baba Ramdev a 'Dongi' (fake) Baba, he said he was acting as the stooge of the RSS and BJP in the guise of fighting black money and corruption. He owes an explanation on how he acquired Rs 1,100 crore to run his trusts. "There are hundreds of yoga gurus in Kerala and Karnataka. Why have they not flourished like him?'' he said.
He also attacked BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar for initiating a nationwide campaign against black money and corruption from June 23. "Let him come clean on the 2G scam and his association with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia before being involved in such struggles,'' Hariprasad said.