Irked over the delay in appointing Lokayukta, former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde on Friday told the government to declare the watchdog agency a white elephant and close it down.
He was addressing a press conference at the Bangalore Press Club to garner public support for the nation-wide stir by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on July 25.
He said the five-member collegium was not able to meet together and decide a name for Lokayukta.
“Lokayukta helps streamlining administration. But, for the last 11 months the post of Lokayukta is vacant. There is no one to respond to the public grievances. Why can’t the collegium sit together and find a name,” Justice Hegde said.
He asked people to gather in great numbers at the Freedom Park in Bangalore on July 25 to lend support to Anna’s agitation for passing the Lokpal Bill and to initiate probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) against the Union ministers facing corruption charges.
Regarding the allegations made against the members of Team Anna, Justice Hegde challenged the government to order probe into their role by the same SIT which the Team Anna wants the ministers to be probed.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks