Siddu rejects Shettar's charge on Lokayukta nominee

 Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday dismissed BJP leader Jagadish Shettar’s charge that the state government was “trying” to keep the Lokayukta’s post vacant.

Speaking to journalists here, he said the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly was part of the team that recommended three people, including Justice Vishwanath Shetty, for the Lokayukta’s position. “Did Shettar recommend Shetty’s name deliberately?” he demanded.

According to the chief minister, Shetty faces only one accusation: owning a site in Judicial Layout. But he is not the only judge to have sites there; 80% of the judges have sites there, he said.

Laying the foundation stone for development works in Shivamogga, Siddaramaiah said his government favoured not only Ahinda (a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward castes and Dalits) but also the poor from all castes. The government has implemented schemes such as Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya etc for people’s welfare, he said.