Hazare writes to PM, takes anti-graft crusade to Bengaluru

With the uncertainty on Lokpal continuing, Anna Hazare has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing hope that the bill will be passed in the current session of  Parliament. Hazare, it is learnt, has asked the PM to bring the CBI under the Lokpal’s ambit, arguing that the Ombudsman will be a toothless institution without an investigating wing. In his letter Hazare has raised concerns over the issue of selection of the Lokpal, bringing the Citizen’s Charter under the Lokpal, and bringing the CBI under the Lokpal. Hazare in his letter has claimed that both the Congress and the BJP have misused the CBI under their regimes. [caption id=“attachment_158775” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The activist is campaigning for Lokpal in Bengaluru today. PTI”] [/caption] Reiterating his ultimatum to the government, he said, “Our protests will begin from December 27, and on January 1 jail bharo andolan  will begin.” “However, if they pass the bill, there will be no protests,” he told reporters in Bengaluru. Hazare is in Bengaluru demanding the appointment of the state Lokayukta. The post of state Lokayukta has been lying vacant for over a year after Justice Santosh Hegde resigned from his position on 31 August 2010. Hegde resigned over the BJP government’s indifference to the Ombudsman. In his capacity as the state Lokayukta, Hegde had exposed a multi-crore illegal mining scam in the state. In his report Hegde had claimed illegal mining was being carried out with the involvement of senior BJP functionaries in the state. Following Hegde’s resignation Justice Shivraj Patil took over the reigns of the Lokayuta but soon had to resign after allegations of illegal acquisition of land were leveled against him. After keeping the post of the Lokayukta vacant for over a year, the BJP in the state now wants to appoint Kerala High Court Justice SR Bannurmath as the Lokayukta. It has made three representations to the governor already, but the governor’s office has been rejecting BJP’s nominees while suggesting that Justice Hegde be reappointed to the post. Governor HR Bhardwaj has made it clear that he will not approve the appointment of Justice Bannurmath as the new Lokayukta. “Let me make it very clear. I will not appoint any judge as Lokayukta if he is accused in any case,” he was quoted saying earlier this week. The state government on the other hand is not willing to compromise on Justice Bannurmath. “The governor has joined hands with the opposition to conspire against the state government. We will bring his anti-constitutional conduct to the president’s notice. The date of the meeting would be finalised soon,” said water resources minister Basavaraj Bommai. With the face-off continuing and politicisation of the office of Lokayukta, Anna Hazare has taken the fight for Lokpal to Karnataka, although he remains silent on the issue of corruption of the state government. Anna Hazare is demanding that a Lokpal be appointed at the earliest. With more than 25 rallies planned in Bengaluru today, Anna Hazare is expected to address a public meeting at the Freedom Park in the city later in the day. He is expected to campaign for the Lokpal in Chennai tomorrow and Hyderabad day after.