‘Bring corporates, NGOs under Lokpal’
AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh on Tuesday suggested that the issue of corruption in NGOs and the corporate sector could be considered by the joint drafting committee and the NAC on the lines of the US law. These committees are working on a draft Lokpal Bill.
Mr Singh’s view is seen as a bid to expand the scope of the 10-member joint drafting committee constituted by the government under the chairmanship of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. Noted lawyer Shanti Bhushan is the co-chairperson of the committee which will complete its work latest by June 30.
“The anti-corruption law in the US can look into the functioning of the corporate sector and the NGO (non-governmental organisations) sector and it should be considered,” he said. However, he sidestepped questions as to whether a probe into corruption in the corporate sector and NGOs was “the need of the hour”.
Mr Singh also said that till now he considered Mr Hazare a Gandhian with impeccable secular credentials.
Replying to a question, he said that the National Advisory Council headed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi could also go into the Jan Lokpal Bill formulated by Mr Hazare and his supporters.
Asked whether Mr Hazare and his supporters needed to be represented in the NAC, he merely said that “his supporters are already there”.
Responding to a volley of questions pertaining to growing corruption, the role of civil society, Mr Hazare’s comments generalising all politicians are corrupt and votes are bought in elections, he said corruption cannot be contained only by a Lokpal act.
“We have to fight against corruption on all levels; let us have a comprehensive policy,” he said.
According to him, the effective use of the RTI Act can check corruption and action should be taken against those who have assets disproportionate to their income.
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