Siddu, HDK urge Hegde not to quit

“Digvijay has aired his personal opinion. His remarks should not be conceived as the party's stand. Justice Hegde should not resign,” he said, while speaking to reporters on Friday.

JD(S) State president H D Kumaraswamy too urged the Lokayukta not to pull back from the panel. “Committee members need not resign from the panel following politically motivated statements. The Lokpal Bill has just gained momentum after languishing for 40 years. It is vital that the Bill gets drafted. The members should not pay heed to the disparaging statements. Justice Hegde has equal responsibility in getting the Bill drafted,” he added.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah alleged that despite the CEC report, illegal mining continued to be rampant in the State, and that the reply furnished by the State government to the Supreme Court was not appropriate.

“Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is being dishonest about illegal mining, and the government's reply to the CEC report is an eyewash. Moreover, what was the State government doing until the CEC submitted its report? Why was it blinding itself when the State was being looted? It has been established that Yeddyurappa including, several officials are involved in illegal mining. Yet there has been no action,” he said.