The day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Assembly Speaker would decide the fate of lokayukta and the move over an impeachment by the Opposition parties, Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said he is “carefully” examining a petition by the Opposition to allow a motion in the House to initiate the process for removal of lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao, who is in the eye of a storm over an alleged extortion racket in his office linked to his son.
The ongoing Monsoon session of the Karnataka Assembly at Belagavi witnessed a unprecedented issue of an impeachment move against lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao by the united Opposition parties. Both BJP and JD(S) have been insisting for the resignation of lokayukta Bhaskar Rao over allegations of corruption involving his son Ashwin Rao. According to annals of Karnataka legislature, this is for the first time they are facing such a situation where an impeachment move has been moved against lokayukta.
As the House met for the day, BJP and JDS members raised the issue, to which Speaker Kagodu Thimappa responded saying, “for the first time such a petition has come. Will have to look into it and decide on it with caution. We will have to face the brunt if we take any wrong decision.”Thimappa said he is examining the matter and will also discuss it in the Business Advisory Committee meeting soon. Asking the members not to be in a hurry, he said, “We will have to take steps within the framework of the Constitution, also keeping the future in mind.”Raising the pitch, BJP and JDS on Saturday presented a petition signed by 57 MlAs to Thimappa, requesting him to allow a motion for the removal of Rao.