Bangalore, June 25 (IANS) Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram Friday telephoned Karnataka Lok Ayukta (ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde to ask him to reconsider his decision to quit but the latter said he was firm on doing so.
‘It was a courtesy call,’ Hegde told reporters after the home minister called him. Hegde had submitted his resignation two days ago frustrated over the state government’s indifference to the anti-corruption panel.
Chidambaram told Hegde his decision to quit would only encourage corrupt elements and hence he should reconsider it.
Hegde, a retired Supreme Court judge, said Chidambaram was a friend and it was a courtesy call.
He said he had been receiving calls from many people, including former Supreme Court judges and chief justices but was firm on leaving the post, a year ahead of his five-year term.
Chidambaram made the call before leaving for Islamabad for the SAARC home ministers conference Saturday.
