Time for people to assert: Lokayukta

Delivering the Yadalam Nanjaiah Shetty Memorial Lecture on ‘Democracy and Citizen’, Hegde said, “Certain statements were made by the elected representatives. One of them was ‘Who are you, you unelected, unelectable tyrants’. To me these sound as words of arrogance. Look at the audacity of these people. We have sent them to  Parliament. We have not given them a general power of attorney to do and say what they wish. All these representatives are called public servants, not public masters,” he said.

On the behaviour of MPs and their performance in Parliament, he said, “A recent statistic indicates that 150 MPs in the current Lok Sabha have criminal records, an increase of 17.2 per cent over the previous Lok Sabha. There are 412 criminal cases against all MPs put together. There are 12 MPs with serious criminal charges against them. These are the persons who have the temerity to question the citizens of the country ‘who are you’.”
Hegde hoped for a movement started by the citizens to tell the elected representatives who they are.

“These representatives cannot question the citizens of India, who are conferred with the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression. I, as a citizen have a right to express my views including my protest, as long it is peaceful and lawful,” he added.
On being asked who was most responsible for corruption, he said it was the nexus between the legislature and executive. “They have become Siamese twins, they need each other.”