An activist of the Karnataka Jagruthi Janandolana, Jayakumar Hiremath, flung pamphlets at Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar at the Independence Day celebrations at the Manekshaw Parade Grounds here on Wednesday, demanding the immediate appointment of a Lokayukta.
The incident happened when Mr. Shettar was returning after inspecting the parade in an open jeep.
The Chief Minister remained unfazed.
Hiremath, who is also a member of the All India Freedom Fighters Samithi, was overpowered and whisked away by the police immediately after the incident. He was taken to the Cubbon Park Police Station.
The activist, who was sitting in the VIP Gallery, hurled pamphlets which said that the Government accept the former Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde’s report on illegal mining in Karnataka.
The post of the Lokayukta was lying vacant since September last after the former Supreme Court Judge Shivaraj Patil tendered resignation in the wake of allegations of getting a housing site in violation of rules.
After his exit, the BJP government recommended the name of the former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmath, but the Governor rejected the nomination.
In the pamphlet, Hiremath demanded the dismissal of “corrupt” Ministers from the Cabinet.
On the appointment of the Lokayukta, the pamphlet said, “It is a shame… no respect for public outrage.”
He demanded that the Chief Minister quit his post, if he was not appointing the Lokayukta.
Earlier, Hiremath filed a complaint with the Lokayukta against Home Minister R. Ashok in connection with an alleged illegal denotification of land in Bangalore.
On July 23, the Karnataka High Court had directed the State government to begin the process of appointment of Lokayukta and rejected its contention that the Lokayukta would be appointed after the Supreme Court gave its verdict on a Special Leave Petition challenging the High Court’s order of quashing the appointment of Chandrashekaraiah as the Upalokayukta.
