'Digvijay Singh takes a U-turn'

[katharnak]

New Delhi, Apr 22: After former Supreme Court Judge N. Santosh Hegde contemplated quitting the panel on the Lokpal Bill, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh has now reversed his comments, saying Karnataka has the best Lokayukta and that his aim was not to challenge anyone.

"I am not challenging anyone and neither am I accepting any challenges. I''m just saying that Karnataka has the best Lokayukta bill. They have the best Lokayukta. So why haven''t they been able to stop the corruption in Karnataka," said Singh.

"Why are they unable to stop the CM''s corruption, why are they unable to stop the Reddy brothers'' corruption?" he asked.

Karnataka Lokayukta Hegde had on Thursday said he was seriously reconsidering his decision to be on the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill.

"I am seriously considering quitting. I am in consultations with my team. I am the one who is fighting against the (Karnataka) government for two-and-a-half years. If anybody says that I am protecting the ruling party in Karnataka, I will give it all up and run," said Hegde.

"The people in the UPA are now making all kinds of allegations, the General Secretaries are going on saying what they like. I want to send a message to the people that we are not political, we are not supporting any party, we joined together to draft the Lokpal Bill," he added.

Digvijay Singh had earlier said that Hegde was not able to check the corruption in Karnataka.

"It is said he (Hegde) is so effective...he has been praised for being the most effective Lokayukta...but when he hasn''t been able to check corruption in Karnataka...what sort of efficacy is this," he said.