Udupi: Referring to the recent notification of the State Government on forming the Anti-Corruption Bureau, this was nothing but removing an effective anti corruption Ombudsman in the form of Lokayukta, said Activist against the corruption and Founder of National Center for Protection of Natural Resources.

While speaking to media persons during the interaction programme organized by Udupi District Working Journalists Association at Press Club, he said the State Government did not have the power to remove Lokayukta from investigating corruption cases. But the State Government give shelter to the corrupt politicians and try to safe corrupt politicians and others. There are pending cases in Lokayukta on D.K. Shivakumar Power Minister in the state, Dinesh Gundurao Food and Civil Supplies Minster, Powerful politician Santhosh Lad, Dr. H. D. Ramesh and others. The Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiya is depending on these persons.

He said that earlier Siddaramaiya travelled to Bellary on Padayathra in regard to the cases of corruption filed in Lokayukta against the BJP leaders. Now the Chief Minister should answer on his stand on the formation of Anti Corruption Bureau. Even BJP is looking for political gains in forming ACB inside the assembly only, but BJP is silent outside the assembly.

S. R. Hiremath said that Lokayukta had done marvelous track record and was the most powerful in the country and effective against corruption. Supreme Court former judges like N. Venkatachala and Nitte Santhosh Hegde has relentlessly tracked down corruption by politicians and government officials as well. ACB would be under the control of the State Cabinet which were not able to function independently, he said.

Udupi Press Club Convener, Chetan Padubidri and Rajesh Shetty Treasurer and others were present.