Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar has said that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which was now being ‘misused’ by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to target opponents, would be scrapped if BJP came to power in the State.
Addressing a press conference in Hubballi on Friday, Mr. Shettar said that BJP had opposed the constitution of ACB as it knew that it would be misused and weaken the institution of Lokayukta. “We had opposed it on the floor of the House then”, he said.
“Going by the steps taken by ACB after it was set up, it is evident that it has become a tool for Mr. Siddaramaiah to target his opponents and it has now been converted into an investigating agency meant to protect corrupt Ministers and Mr. Siddaramaiah’s aides”, Mr Shettar said.
Asked what would happen to the cases filed by ACB, Mr. Shettar said steps would be taken to get them independently investigated. And steps would also be taken to strengthen the Lokayukta, which had been ‘weakened’ by the Congress government.
On the reports of ACB’s plan to conduct raids on IT officials in Karnataka, Mr. Shettar said the developments after the issue came to light and the statement of the Home Minister have confirmed the suspicion that Mr. Siddaramaiah was indulging in “vendetta politics. “It is now clear that ACB is acting according to the directions of the Chief Minister”, he alleged.
The former Chief Minister clarified that the ACB had no authority to conduct investigation or raids against IT officials serving in Karnataka as the law did not permit it.
