Bangalore: A day after Retd Justice Santosh Hegde resigned as Karnataka's chief Lokayukta, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, on Thursday, broke his silence on the issue.
Speaking on Hegde's resignation, Yeddyurappa said that he was pained by the former Supreme Court judge's decision to quit.
"The government has great respect for Lokayukta Justice Hedge. His decision caused me great pain. Karnataka needs honest men like Justice Hegde," Yeddyurappa said.
The Chief Minister also said that the issue of his resignation would be debated in the state assembly.
On the possibility of withdrawal of resignation by the former Lokayukta, Yeddyurappa said, "I don't want to embarrass him by asking him to withdraw his resignation."
Hegde took on the powerful mining mafia in Karnataka as the head of the state's watchdog by ordering a probe into Bellary brothers' business.
Hegde had conducted a detailed probe into the mining mafia of Bellary worth over Rs. 50,000 crores.
Although his action earned him appreciation from the public, the state government junked his report. Undeterred Hegde continued his crackdown on mining mafia, corrupt bureaucrats, police and even MLAs across the state.
Due do this, he was frequently targetted in public by some ministers in the Karnataka government, including Reddy brothers.
Hegde now says that it is up to Governor HR Bhardwaj to act on his resignation.
(With inputs from Abhirr VP)
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