Go slow on Lokpal Bill, advise parties
The all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the contentious Lokpal Bill failed to reach a consensus on Wednesday evening. Divergent views were expressed on the question of bringing the Prime Minister and lower bureaucracy (Group C and D employees) within the ambit of the anti-corruption ombudsman.
The political parties urged the Prime Minister at the three-hour-long meeting to “go slow” on the Lokpal Bill given the absence of a consensus. It is uncertain, therefore, if the government will bring in this contentious legislation for passage in the ongoing Winter Session. The government had earlier intended to introduce it on December 20.
The Union Cabinet is expected to take up the bill at its meeting next Sunday, after the Prime Minister returns from his visit to Russia, which begins Thursday.
Activist Anna Hazare has threatened an indefinite fast from December 27 if there was no “strong” Lokpal Bill by then.
At Wednesday’s meeting at the Prime Minister’s 7 Race Course Road residence, the BJP, which wanted the PM under the Lokpal, with safeguards, toed the Anna Hazare line and sought inclusion of Group C and D employees. On the CBI, the BJP wanted the agency’s investigation wing under the Lokpal.
The Bahujan Samaj Party demanded that the PM, lower bureaucracy and Lokayukta be covered under the Lokpal, and also sought reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women in the search panel and in the Lokpal body. This line was supported by the Samajwadi Party and Lok Janshakti Party.
The Left parties, including the CPI(M) and CPI, wanted the PM under the Lokpal. CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, however, said Group C and D employees “cannot be brought under the Lokpal as there are crores of such employees”. He said there should be a separate body to deal with them. The Left also wanted the Lokpal to be accountable to Parliament.
Akali Dal leader S.S. Dhindsa said the CBI should remain independent, but the Lokpal should have a say in the selection of the CBI director.
Comments
The Government and the
saasha
15 Dec 2011 - 12:38
The Government and the Parliament should not be held at 'gun point' by unelected indivuals, who are going beyond their boundary line of ethics, and causing instability to the nation.
Hazare is there only for 'name sake' while it is certain 'masked unknown faces' that are deriving maximum coverage and footage, for their own personal ahievement.
Disecting the Government and the Parliament powers is something not seen as a welcome move, since India is Not Ruled by Monarchy, but is run by leagally elected members by the people themselves.
If at all the Lokpal comes into effect, the first persons who will be investigated and sent to prison will be Hazare for his misuse of government funds for his own NGO, Bedi for her inflated invoice and claiming more funds and filling into her own NGO, Bushans for buying the Judges, to faavour their own cases, Kejrival for avoiding income tax payment for serveral years, and misusing the donations for his own personal NGOs.
What moral right do these have to 'dictate terms ' to the government, or inciting protests and agitations in the country.
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