Lokpal Bill in RS; Oppn finds faults
Moving a step further towards enactment of a historic law for setting up Lokpal, government today tabled a bill to this effect in the Rajya Sabha, but it was rejected by the Opposition as 'constitutionally vulnerable'.
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, already passed by Lok Sabha, was moved for consideration by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy amid questions over its passage in view of stiff opposition by various parties, including UPA ally Trinamool Congress.
The UPA does not enjoy a majority in the Upper House.
Pushing for passage of the crucial bill, Narayanasamy said it 'is in line with the sense of the House' expressed on August 27.
Initiating the debate, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley slammed the bill saying it would lead to 'constitutional havoc' as the Centre would be encouraged to 'usurp' rights of states through the provision of setting up of Lokayuktas.
The BJP leader and noted lawyer also opposed minority quota in the Lokpal bench, inclusion of NGOs and keeping CBI out of the purview of the ombudsman.
"If you are creating history, let us not create bad history. We will be leaving a lot of task for the next generation to do," he said.
He made it clear the the BJP would not support the Bill in the present form.
"Please accept amendments that the colleagues have moved," he said.
Abhishek M Singhvi (Cong) rejected Jaitley's contentions, saying said the BJP was creating fear psychosis over the issue of NGOs under the purview of the ombudsman.
Seeking to drive a wedge between the UPA coalition partners, Jaitley encouraged Trinamool Congress by saying that its opposition to various provisions of the bill was correct.
Holding that one does not have to demolish federalism in the fight against corruption, he said: "That is why the Trinamool Congress is right."
BSP member S.C. Mishra also criticised the bill for keeping CBI under government control and said the agency is used to settle political scores. He claimed that cases against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati were an example of such misuse.
Mishra appeared to attack Rahul Gandhi when he said that a Congress leader goes to Uttar Pradesh and says that 'we (Centre) have sent money...Is it your (Centre's) property? It is our money'.
He said the reservation for minorities in the Lokpal bench and search committee was done under pressure as the Congress treats minorities only as 'vote-minting machine'.
Amidst protest from Congress members, he said it was a 'day of misery' for the ruling dispensation and counseled them to listen patiently to the criticism.
During the debate, which saw exchange of barbs between Jaitley and Singhvi, the Congress member rejected opposition's stand on reservation, saying the bill does not have any provision for quota and only talks about ensuring representation from diverse sections of the society.
He accused the BJP of giving an 'advanced prematured certificate of unconstitutionality'.
He said the Lokpal bill does not cover all private trusts but only those, which receive public donations above a certain amount.
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