Hegde acted against me eyeing key post: BSY

Renukacharya asks the former Lokayukta to reveal who is behind the conspiracy

“Hegde should disclose those behind the conspiracy and the reasons for it. You (Hegde) should say it honestly. You have only probed the irregularities pertaining to mining that have taken place during my tenure as chief minister and Janardhana Reddy as Tourism minister, despite asking you to submit a detailed report on mining activities since 2000,” the former chief minister told mediapersons at Shikaripur in Shimoga.

“Apart from this, notice hasn’t been issued to me at all. Besides, some extracts of the report on illegal mining were shared with mediapersons from time to time even before the submission. What are the reasons for this,” he asked.

Yeddyurappa said: “One of the officers of Lokayukta had spoken of corruption in the Lokayukta. However, you (Hegde) failed to take suitable steps in this regard during your tenure as Lokayukta. Hence, you have no moral right to speak of people sitting in the Vidhana Soudha. You should apologise to the people of the State.”

Commenting on the transfer of Lokayukta ADGP Jeevan Kumar Gaonkar, Yeddyurappa said: “On the one hand, Deve Gowda is accusing me of being responsible for the ADGP’s transfer; on the other, Hegde is saying Gaonkar has been transferred for my protection. What’s the secret behind these statements.”

Coming down heavily on Lokayukta officials, he said they still followed the instructions of Deve Gowda and his sons.

“They took nine months to conduct an inquiry into a case against Balakrishne Gowda, the eldest son of Deve Gowda. But they have submitted a report against me in just one month. This makes it clear that even the officials had joined hands with the Opposition parties. The leaders of the Congress and the JD(S) were hell-bent on sending me to jail.

They have done it. But they are still not satisfied,” the former chief minister added. Meanwhile, Excise Minister M P Renukacharya urged Hegde to reveal whether he had been pressured by the Congress, the JD(S), or the governor to include the name of Yeddyurappa in his investigations.

Addressing a media conference in Mysore, he said said none of the judges discussed the verdict in the open, but Hegde had been giving out information to the media, as he was keen on gaining publicity. Renukacharya demanded that Hegde reveal the truth behind the investigations.

Though Gowda had threatened Gaonkar, Hegde had not spoken a word against Gowda. H D Kumaraswamy had also made statements against Shankar Bidari, but Hedge said nothing about it. “Why is he targeting only Yeddyurappa,” he asked.

Bellary bypoll
Regarding the Bellary byelection, the minister said the BJP would emerge victorious. Sriramulu will regret his decision to contest as an Independent candidate, he said adding Yeddyurappa will decide in a day or two about canvassing for the poll. “It’s not necessary for Yeddyurappa to physically do the campaigning. His portrait is enough for BJP to win elections,” he said.