Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde, whose resignation was rejected by Governor H R Bhardwaj on Thursday, has refused to reconsider his decision.
Speaking to rediff.com about his telephonic conversation with Home Minister P Chidambaram, Justice Hegde said it was merely a courtesy call.
"He has every right to call me since we have been friends since the past 40 years. He was obviously taken aback by my decision to quit so suddenly. The home minister asked me, 'is it right for you to resign at a time when there is so much corruption in Karnataka'. He also asked me to reconsider my decision," said Hegde.
Maintaining his tough stance on the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka which has completed two years in power, Hegde said it was unfortunate that the party had termed the home minister's call as part of a political game.
"There is no politics involved in this and I can say that with conviction. I have told the home minister that the situation over here is not conducive to work. I also told him the same thing I had said while putting in my papers -- it is not right for me to continue in a place where I cannot protect my own officers," said Hegde.
When asked whether he would reconsider his decision to resign, Justice Hegde said that as of now, the answer was an 'emphatic no'.
"I have been under a lot of pressure not to go ahead with my resignation. Many lawyers came up to me with a memorandum urging me not to go ahead with my resignation. Let's see what happens," he said.
But the anti-corruption official added, "As of today, I am going ahead with my resignation."
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