BENGALURU: Even as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, continues to defend his decision to set up the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), opposition from with the cabinet against the new set-up has come to light.
RDPR minister H.K. Patil and one another senior cabinet minister opposed the idea. “Both ministers told Mr Siddaramaiah that this would send a wrong signal to the public and that the timing was wrong,” sources said.
A member of the upper House, too, told Mr Siddaramaiah not to go ahead with the plan for now. Energy minister, D.K. Shivakumar, however, came to the rescue of Mr Siddaramaiah saying it was the right decision.
Mr Shivakumar faced acute embarrassment when social activists complained to Lokayukta against Mr Shivakumar. So, Mr Shivakumar would back Mr Siddaramaiah in a systematic effort to weaken the Lokayukta, sources added.
Meanwhile, Mr Siddaramaiah told the media in Tumakuru on Friday that creation of ACB would not weaken the Lokayutka, but a disinformation campaign was launched by Opposition parties. The government had not done or would not do anything to weaken the Lokayukta.
“Why are Opposition parties unnecessarily opposing ACB? Why do they oppose our move even when we say we would like to check corruption. We will have dual system of both Lokayukta and ACB. Lokayukta has 18,000 cases and to dispose off these cases, ACB has been constituted,” he added.
Encroachments on sankey tank will be cleared: Siddaramaiah
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured a delegation led by Opposition leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar that he will take steps to clear encroachments in Sankey tank situated in Sadashivanagar in the city.
The Chief Minister also said that he will soon convene a meeting of the officers concerned and will take a decision to clear the encroachments.
Mr Shettar submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister requesting him to intervene in the matter. Mr. Shettar stated that private developers and a sister concern of Mantri Developers had illegally encroached on land adjacent to the lake and had decided to construct a commercial complex and residential apartments.
The land belongs to the forest department but private parties had illegally encroached on it by creating fake sale deeds, Mr Shettar said. After meeting the Chief Minister, Mr. Shettar said that Mr Siddaramaiah had assured the constitution of a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to discuss the matter.
