BENGALURU: The BJP has accused the Congress government of weakening the Lokayukta through large-scale transfer of police personnel from the anti-corruption agency.
Opposition leader in the Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, has demanded that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) make Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao an accused instead of a witness in the alleged extortion racket in the Lokayukta. The state government is undermining the Lokayukta institution by overnight transfers of 123 constables and 21 inspectors besides other personnel from the agency, he said.
Shettar said though the government had cited the High Court deadline to reshuffle the personnel who have completed the prescribed two to five years of service in the Lokayukta, it should have made alternative postings to fill the vacancies.
On the BJP’s signature campaign to remove Justice Rao form the Lokayukta, Shettar said it is almost complete and the party has been holding talks with JD(S) leaders to further bolster the campaign. To adopt a motion for the removal of the Lokayukta, the party needs the support of 75 MLAs and 25 MLCs.
After getting the signatures of the members of the combined opposition, a notice would be given to Assembly Kagodu Speaker Kagadu Thimmappa and Upper House chairman D H Shankaramurthy, he said.
He also demanded an interim report on the ongoing probe into the cricket betting scam, alleging that the racket is still active even as the CID probe is ongoing.
He demanded a special legislature session to discuss pressing issues, including the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, illegal sand mining and farmer suicides in the state.