Karnataka ombudsman sticks to charge against BJP leader
Bangalore, July 20 (IANS) Karnataka Lokayukta (ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde Wednesday asserted that a Bharatiya Janata Party leader tried to influence him over illegal mining report.
"I stand by what I have stated," he told reporters here.
Hegde said last week former BJP central minister V. Dhananjaya Kumar had urged him not to mention Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa's name in the report on illegal mining to be submitted to the government in the next few days.
The Lokayukta's assertion came even as opposition parties intensified attack on Yeddyurappa and the BJP for the alleged attempt to influence the illegal mining report.
Hegde said he has not yet fixed a date to submit the report but will do so before his five-year term ends Aug 2.
The Congress Wednesday held a rally in Bangalore against Dhananjaya Kumar's reported attempt while Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) has sought the governor's intervention in the matter.
The JD-S Tuesday staged a rally here and submitted a memorandum to Governor H.R. Bhardwaj, urging him to dismiss the Yeddyurappa ministry for its attempt to influence the Lokayukta.
Both the parties have threatened to launch state-wide agitations if the Yeddyurappa government does not act swiftly on the recommendations of the report to be submitted by Lokayukta.
Dhananjaya Kumar, now Karnataka government special representative at New Delhi, has denied he tried to influence the Lokayukta to spare Yeddyurappa.
"I am ready for any probe and action, if guilty," he has said.