Battling allegations of corruption, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today extended support to social activist Anna Hazare, who is on an indefinite fast demanding a comprehensive Jan Lokpal Bill. “Time has come for enactment of such a legislation to eradicate corruption in the country,” he said here.
Yeddyurappa, facing charges of nepotism and favouritism in land denotifications, demanded the Centre take steps to bring in a legislation to fight rampant corruption in the country. Two advocates have filed five private complaints against Yeddyurappa in a court here seeking his prosecution under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act after obtaining sanction from Governor H R Bhardwaj.
The court had taken cognisance of the offences listed in the complaints and directed the Lokayukta police to investigate the charges.
However, Karnataka High Court has stayed the proceedings on a petition by Yeddyurappa’s son-in-law Sohan Kumar.
Dissidents in ruling BJP have been seeking the ouster of Yeddyurappa from chief minister’s post citing allegations of corruption faced by him. Yeddyurappa, who has denied all charges, was speaking after presenting the state government’s Devaraj Urs Award to Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala D Veerendra Hegde in recognition of his services for the welfare of rural development and backward classes.
Hegde too supported Hazare’s fight against corruption and suggested that the efforts should begin to check the menace at the village level. “People should be in a position to display a signboard that their village is corruption-free and it should go up to taluk, district, state and country level,” he added.
