Hiremath alludes at another legal battle against govt

CM practicing dual policy in ordering SIT probe

Social activist S R Hiremath, on Monday, indicated at seeking judiciary’s help in making Lokayukta Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the role of serving and retired bureaucrats involved in illegal mining activities in the State in toto, with the help of existing Lokayukta report.

Replying to media queries at an interaction programme, organised by Mysore District Journalists Association, Hiremath alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is practicing dual policy. “While he has ordered SIT probe into allegations of illegal mining, involving five IAS officers and one IPS officer, attempts are being made to probe the same on the basis of one of the two reports on illegal mining submitted by then Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde,” he said.

Saying that SIT should follow both the reports, Hiremath said: “I also apprised the incumbent Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao about the developments. I have set in motion the process to go to court regarding the issue, as an attempt to make the government tread the right path in relation to the probe”.

Retrograde step
Hiremath termed the State government’s move to amend Karnataka Lokayukta Act as a retrograde step. He referred to the existing redressal mechanism in anti-corruption ombudsman, where the voiceless were seeking help. If amended, the Lokayukta will be devoid of power in redressing people’s problems.

Reddy’s bail
On Gali Janardhan Reddy, who is close to coming out of jail, obtaining bail in most of the cases against him, Hiremath said: “If the CBI has completed investigation into illegal mining cases, there is no harm in his release from jail”.

For power sake
Hiremath also sided with the opinion in general about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah compromising with his principles, by not initiating action against tainted ministers like D K Shivakumar and Dinesh Gundurao in his Cabinet, for the sake of power. “The Congress government in its second year is a near dud, compared with the promising note in the first year,” he said.