Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Mar 16: Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Wednesday March 16 criticized the state government's move to form Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) stating that it was 'against the law' and demanded that it be revoked.
Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here, Poojary said, "The state government's move to form ACB is against the law. The chief minister should withdraw it immediately. According to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC ), chief minister, ministers, MLAs or any public servant can been booked and investigated. The CrPC was amended several years ago. Today the opposition parties and the media are criticizing the government over this move.
"There is an advocate general in the state and there are many other advocates and talented lawyers. Has the chief minister gathered their opinions before forming the ACB? Ugrappa who in our party is a legal expert, did the CM ask his opinion? The entire nation knows that Siddaramaiah is a sincere CM and he has introduced many good programmes for the people. There is no allegation of corruption against him. The opposition tried to taint him in the Arkavathi denotification case, which is actually a child of the BJP. The BJP and its CMs had denotified 900 acres of land. The present CM is working against what they had done. The CM has also given good budget to the state, better than any previous CM or finance minister," he said.
Stating that there was no need for ACB when Lokayukta was already functioning, he said, "The Lokayukta Act is a power act and this was also said by Rajiv Gandhi. Former Lokayuktas Justice Venkatachala and Justice Santhosh Hegde strengthened the institution and their working stye was a model for the entire country. But later the BJP ruined it and Bhaskar Rao and his son destabilised the Lokayukta. Lokayukta has brought good name to the government. Why should we spoil that name? I am not saying you (CM) are doing it, but do we want ACB at all? For three years you (CM) have given good administration, why do you want to spoil it? Let us do good work for the remaining two years. Do you want history to accuse you? I personally want you to continue as CM for many years, so why have this blemish?"
"Lokayukta is an independent body. Without approval in the Legislative Council, how can you change the law? There is still time to revoke the ACB. If you (CM) want opinion, you can approach the high court judge and collect his views," he added.
Targetting the BJP, he said, "BJP has no moral right to accuse the Congress government in the matter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he would strengthen the Lokpal - did he do that? Even the CBI was supposed to become an autonomous body, but did he do it? Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje faced allegations of corruption, but was any action taken against them? Hence BJP has no moral right to question the Congress."
He reiterated that ACB should be withdrawn.
To a question on the row over deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim's name in the invitation of a temple programme in Puttur, he said, "A B Ibrahim is also god's child. This is a secular state and the DC is the chief of the district muzrai department. What is wrong in printing his name in the invitation?"