'State govt rendering Lokayukta toothless'
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has accused the state government of rendering the Lokayukta institution weaker to protect the interest of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is under cloud for alleged irregularities during his tenure at the office.
G N Nagaraj, state executive member of CPM, said the government transferred ADGP Jeevan Kumar Gaonkar in two months after he assumed charge of Lokayukta office. Yeddyurappa has brought pressure on chief minister Sadananda Gowda to transfer the ADGP.
The release of Yeddyurappa on bail from jail and the transfer of the ADGP is not a coincidence, he said.
He flayed the government for recommending retired judges belonging to Lingayat community for the Lokayukta post. The government cannot act against corrupt leaders till the BJP is in power, he opined.
He accused the BJP of indulging in corruption not just in Karnataka but also in Gujarat and other states. National leaders are paid kickbacks to protect the leaders in the states. The Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh is also acquiring huge tracts of land in the state and other BJP-ruled states, he added.
He also criticised the Congress-led Central government for its corrupt deeds and said leaders in both Congress and BJP have become puppets in the hands of the high command.
The CPM has internal democracy compared to other political parties, he stated.
CPM state committee member S Varalashmi, district secretary L Jagannath and others were present.
