Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde,a member of the joint drafting committee for the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill,said on Saturday that he was not in favour of Anna Hazare undertaking his planned fast from August 16 if a strong Lok Pal Bill was not prepared. Personally,I am not in favour of resuming fast. I do not support and dont think Annaji should go on fast this time. We have garnered so much of support from the people of this country. Rather I would suggest that he should undertake a tour of this country,meet people in the cities,villages and tell them the ill-effects of corruption and its effect on their lives,too, Hegde told The Sunday Express. We need to inform rather than threaten,if an effective and strong mechanism is not put in place, Hegde added. He also said that he has written to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,chairman of the drafting committee,co-chairman Shanti Bhushan as well Hazare,expressing his inability to attend the meetings of the drafting committee scheduled for June 20 and 21 in New Delhi. He said he was not walking out of the committee as is being interpreted in some quarters but was being forced out due to prior commitments. The dates were fixed on June 15 and I had stated that I would not be able to attend the meetings on June 21 and 22 due to prior commitments. There was no choice however to fix dates since the chairman is scheduled to travel abroad from June 22 to June 30, he said. I have written to Anna Hazare saying I am not walking out of the committee.. Some people are saying there is a rift between the civil society members on the committee,there is no rift, he added. He did not elaborate on his prior commitments but is scheduled to submit a final report on illegal mining in Karnataka to the state government by the end of June. I am a little frustrated in the manner the bill has been handled so far but not on any issues. I am not one to walk out on issues, Hegde said. I have assured my full support and co-operation to Annaji on the issue but will not be able to participate in the rallies or proposed fasts (sit-ins). For the simple reason,I occupy the office of the Lokayukta. After August,I may consider, he said. He retires as Lokayukta of Karnataka in August,this year.
