From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 16: Members cutting across party lines, vociferously demanded in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday that Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao should honourably quit office over the bribery scandal, involving his own son Ashwin Rao and others, before being hounded out due to public anger.

Even ruling Congress party members joined the chorus of opposition BJP and JD(S) in demanding Lokayukta’s resignation as the public has lost confidence and faith in the State’s anti-corruption ombudsman.

With Lokayukta’s son Ashwin Rao’s alleged involvement in the bribery scam and the filing of an FIR against Ashwin Rao, Lokayukta’s Public Relations Officer Syed Riaz and others, Lokayukta Rao’s position has become totally untenable, the members said.

“If the Lokayukta has any sense of shame, he should have quit the office by this time,’’ members said.

While the BJP demanded a probe by the CBI into the Lokayukta’s affairs, the JD(S) members alleged that the Government has been safeguarding the Lokayukta and officers.

The JD(S) demanded amendments to the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, in a few days for the removal of the Lokayutka.

Former minister and BJP member S Suresh Kumar appealed to the House to pass a resolution seeking resignation of Justice Bhaskar Rao.

However, Ramesh Kumar (Congress) and other members opposed it since it would lower the dignity of the House in case Justice Rao did not resign.

Replying to the two-day debate on the subject, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra ruled out the CBI probe and said Special Investigation Team has been given full powers and staff to conduct the probe.

The minister also promised to bring an amendment to the Act in the current session itself to ensure removal of the Lokayukta.

Unhappy with the reply by the minister, BJP and JD(S) members staged a walkout from the House.

Earlier, the House witnessed heated exchange of words between ruling Congress and JD(S) members when former chief minister and State JD(S) chief H D Kumaraswamy claimed that the Government is directly protecting the Lokayukta.

He alleged that the SIT probe would not come out with any creditworthy report to nab the culprits indulged in the scam.

The JD(S) leader blamed the State Government for the delay in the arrest of Ashwin Rao.

In incidentally, Kumaraswamy and Energy Minister D K Shiva Kumar were involved in a verbal tussle with each other over filing of cases against them and their family members by the Lokayukta.

While Kumaraswamy alleged that the State Government has been misusing the Lokayukta to file FIRs against him and BJP leader and MP B S Yeddyurappa, Shivakumar shouted at the JD(S) leader said: “You too ( Kumaraswamy) misused the office to file cases against my wife in Ballary mining.”

Home Minister K J George extended support to his cabinet colleague and said there was no substance in allegations made by Kumaraswamy against the Government.