Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today virtually issued a gag order to BJP MLAs and leaders, asking them not to take any step or issue statements that would lower the dignity of office of the Lokayukta which is probing land allotment complaints against him.
Yeddyurappa said he was deeply hurt by the behaviour of some BJP MLAs who threatened to stage a “dharna” in front of the office of the Lokayukta if the ombudsman Justice N Santosh Hegde did not tender an apology to the Chief Minister.
“The office of Lok Ayukta is one of high respect and dignity. Nobody should take any action and issue statement lowering the dignity of this office,” Yeddyurappa said, adding, henceforth no statement should be issued by any BJP legislator and party leader lowering the dignity of Lokayukta. The opposition Congress, meanwhile, accused the BJP government of trying to undermine the “dignity” of Lok Ayukta.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah said, “Yeddyurappa is uprooting the dignity of Lok Ayukta.” President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee G Parameshwara flayed the government move seeking a status report from Lok Ayukta on seven cases and said, “It amounted to holding out a threat that the institution is not working properly.”
Hegde has issued a notice to the Chief Minister, seeking his views on a JD(S) complaint on denotification of lands, saying there is a prima facie case.
