Kundapur: Politicians Thronging Temples to Corrupt Gods, Reasons Justice Hegde

Pics: Vinay Pais
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Kundapur, Jul 9: Sounding satirical, Karnataka Lokayukta, Justice N Santosh Hegde, felt that the politicians have been frequenting various temples instead of  discharging their duties sincerely, in an attempt to make the gods partners in their corrupt activities. “The Lord has not yet given in to their prayers to succumb to lure of wealth. Now that there are reasons to believe that huge wealth is stashed away beneath the temples, the politicians may begin to go under the ground to pay obeisance there,” he said.

Justice Hegde was replying to questions posed by the students in a programme of interaction organized with the students of Bhandarkars Arts and Science College, Kundapur on Friday July 8. The programme was jointly organized by the college and the old students association of the college. The interaction was arranged on the topics of National Lokpal Bill and prevention of corruption in the country.

“Egotism mixed with corruption is a dangerous concoction. The politicians have both these qualities aplenty. The fact that a MP, in his comments after participating in a meeting of the civil society representatives with the government on the bill, questioned as to  how can those who have never won an election question the elected representatives, proves their haughtiness,” Hegde explained. He said that corruption will grow as long as the people do not cultivate the habit to feel satisfied with what they have, and  expressed concern about the fact that the gap between the haves and have-nots in the country has been growing with each passing year. “Poor are becoming poorer, rich are becoming richer,” he added.

He gave the examples of the recent happenings in the parliament and assembly sessions to show how has the system of legislature stooped to new low after independence. He said that successive governments had not given in to frequent demands spread over the last 44 years for framing of the Lokpal Bill, and that the present government is unwilling to hold discussions on draft bill. “On December 23, 2008, 17 bills were passed by the parliament without any discussions, including a bill that withdrew the power of subjecting corrupt public servants to inquiry and punish them, from the Lokayukta. This shows the commitment level of our people’s representatives,” he fumed.

He said that the only difference the civil society representatives and the government have on the Lokpal Bill is the exclusion of Prime Minister and judiciary from the purview of this bill. The civil society wants to bring both of them within the Lokpal jurisdiction, he said.

He said that the state Lokayukta does not intend to spare any of the politicians. He lamented the fact that the Lokayukta has the power to only hold investigations, but not of punishing the guilty, which is vested with the courts.

To a question of a student as to on what basis had he termed the lathi charge on Baba Ramdev in New Delhi as wrong, Hegde reiterated that the policemen had the option of waking up the protestors, or waiting till the next morning. He asserted that assaulting a person in the dark was not the right step.

Manipal Academy of General Education administrative officer, Dr H Shantaram, presided. Principal, Prof Doma Chandrashekhar, delivered introductory address. President of the old students association, K C Rajesh, welcomed. Lecturer, Navin Shetty presented the programme.