From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 16: Former Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy on Saturday March 16 took oath as Goa’s first Lokayukta, amidst protests by non-BJP parties a few metres away from Raj Bhavan.

Reddy was administered the oath of secrecy by Goa Governor B V Wanchoo in the presence of State Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The opposition MLAs remained absent for the ceremony, although there was no formal announcement of boycott by them.

“I am visiting Goa after 19 years. I do not know a single individual here. I met Governor and Chief Minister for the first time,” Reddy said in his first ever media interaction, where he refused to entertain any questions.

“I shall to the best of my ability serve Goa through judicial process of which I am part for the last 42 years,” the former Supreme Court judge said. He stated that he would take a couple of weeks to start functioning formally as there are a few things needed to be tied up.

Referring to the media, he said, “I am going to depend on you people for the information in order to arrest, curb and erase menace of corruption in the state."

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who met the Lokayukta after the swearing-in in the presence of Governor Wanchoo and Advocate General Atamaram Nadkarni, said that it was his first meeting with Reddy.

“I had not even seen his photograph. I saw his picture yesterday on newspapers,” said Parrikar, who has been accused by opposition parties of appointing his “Yes Man” on the Chair.

Goa’s non-BJP political leaders including Congress and NCP today protested on the road leading to Raj Bhavan, where the swearing-in took place. Aires Rodrigues, spokesman of “Together for Goa”, a front which objects to Reddy’s appointment, said that it is condemnable that such an appointment has been done.

The protestors showed black flags and a big banner accusing Reddy as “Yes Man” was displayed during the protests. Although Congress party did not formally boycott the swearing-in, Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, who is the part of committee that selected Reddy for the post was not present for the ceremony.

Congress leader Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco was present amongst the protestors showing black flags. Lourenco, when contacted, refused to comment on the issue.