The heat of the Anna Hazare anti-corruption agitation has had a collateral effect in Karnataka with former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy letting out some steam on each other’s private lives.
Kumaraswamy and Hegde, who was appointed as the Lokayukta by the former’s government, have bust any existing myths about their coziness by engaging in a war of words over the past few days.
It all started in the television studio of a Kannada channel on day 11 of Hazare’s fast for the Jan Lokpal Bill when Kumaraswamy, 51, was being grilled about the corrupt nature of politicians in general. Not one to mince his words, the former chief minister argued that it was not right to paint all politicians as scum. He suggested everyone has their grey zone and made a reference to a “lavish night life’’ enjoyed by a much revered person like the 71-year-old former Lokayukta himself.
“How much Hegde spends on his night life, who pays for it, can someone pay for such things from one’s salary? Will he give an account of it?’’ Kumaraswamy asked on the Target show aired on Suvarna TV on August 26.
The comment went viral and Justice Hegde, the primary face of the anti-corruption agitation at Bangalore’s Freedom Park, struck back the next day.
“A former chief minister is asking how Santosh Hegde gets the money to party every night. Santosh Hegde has had only one wife for 42 years. I have no second home and no other bad habits. Those asking these questions should first examine themselves,’’ said Justice Hegde in his repartee.
“Santosh Hegde goes directly from the Freedom Park to his home. He does not go house to house,’’ said Hegde, who was a part of the joint drafting committee for the anti-corruption Bill.
The former judge’s comments triggered another reaction from H D Kumaraswamy, whom Hegde has named for impropriety in his July 27 report on illegal mining, even as senior JDS leaders like Kumaraswamy’s father the former PM H D Deve Gowda tried to apologise to Hegde.
Kumaraswamy threatened to substantiate his claims and expose Hegde with full documents.
“There is no question of expressing regret. I am committed to what I said. I will expose Justice Hegde. I am prepared to furnish documentary proof within a few days. I am also prepared to participate in a debate with Justice Hegde. If he is ready we can both share our views in front of the people,’’ he said.
On Sunday, when Hazare broke his fast Justice Hegde refused to sully Freedom Park with any references to his battle with Kumaraswamy. “Kumaraswamy appears to be unhappy with me because... his name has been mentioned in the illegal mining report,” Justice Hegde however reasoned at another event.
However, with heat dissipated from the anti-corruption stir, Hegde and Kumaraswamy too seem to have softened their stand on each other.
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