He was speaking at an interactive meet with students at Bhavani Mantap of Ambalapady temple here on Monday June 20. The interactive meet was organized by Balakedarara Vedike and the District Information Centre.
When the students queried about chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy taking an oath at Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala over corruption charges, Hegde replied that God should punish both.
In his message to the students, Hegde said that the anti-corruption campaign should begin at the individual level in every household so as to reform the society and heighten its impact on the country.
He further added the Lokpal may not put an end to corruption, but it can certainly help curb rampant corruption to a great extent.
He also regretted not attending the meet on Lokpal Bill in New Delhi on Monday June 20, but said that he will attend the same on Tuesday June 21.
Over 300 students from schools and colleges of the district participated in the interactive meet with Justice Hegde.
Speaking to the media, he said that Lokpal can come into effect only if there was consensus on all issues raised by the civil society.
Expressing his concern over the issue of bringing the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal, he said that there is no point in investigating the PM once he quits office. Though he may not be directly involved in corruption, there might be possibilities of protecting a wrong-doer, which is equally offensive, he said.
He further said that it would be better for Anna Hazare to organise a nation-wide tour rather an going on another fast on August 16, in case there is no consensus on the outstanding issues between the government and the civil society by then.
