New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) Indicating a climb-down, Justice N. Santosh Hegde Saturday said he has no complaints after the Congress "diluted" its comment on his efficacy as Karnataka Lokayukta, but since he made a public announcement of quitting the Lokpal Bill panel he had to take forward the process.
Arriving in the national capital, Hegde said he has come with an open mind and would abide by whatever decision Anna Hazare takes on his announcement to quit the 10-member joint panel of government and five civil society activists.
Hegde had announced he would quit the drafting panel after Congress leader Digvijay Singh questioned his success in curbing corruption in Karnataka.
"Recently I felt that I should vacate it (the panel) and somebody else can come because I was very hurt by the statement that was made. Now clarifications have been given, statements have been diluted. It's ok, I have no grievance and I have no complaints to it any more," Hegde said.
"But having taken a decision publicly announcing that I am thinking of resigning...and after consulting the people in Delhi, now I must complete that process," he added.
The former Supreme Court judge reached the capital Saturday morning for a meeting with civil society members on his continuation on the panel.
"I am bound by the decision of Anna-ji. Whatever Anna Hazare says I will agree to it," Hegde told reporters.
"I had a talk with him (Hazare) and he told me not take any precipitatory action till he meets me. So I have come with an open mind and a committed mind to abide by Anna-ji's decision," he added.
Commenting on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement that the government was looking forward to working with Anna Hazare and his colleagues, Hegde said that it was a "nice gesture" on the part of the chairman of the committee.
He added that the demand to have a caste based representation in the committee was a means to derail the process.
"If you want a caste based representation in this committee of five members, then I think this committee can never be constituted," Hegde said.
On Friday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati demanded the inclusion of a Dalit member in the Lokpal Bill drafting committee.
Earlier in the day, Anna Hazare said in Pune that a decision on Hegde will be taken after the meeting.
"We will discuss and take a decision (on Hegde's quitting the panel). The people have not lost faith in us, otherwise so many of them would not have been here today to support me," he told reporters before leaving for the national capital.