Having got the wrong end of the stick from civil society members in the Lokpal Bill joint drafting committee, the government has now decided to widen the discussion on the controversial legislation. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, the committee’s chairman, on Tuesday shot off letters to state chief ministers and the leaders of all
political parties seeking their views on whether the Prime Minister should be subject to scrutiny by the proposed Lokpal institution.
Cracks have meanwhile started appearing amongst civil society figures with yoga guru Baba Ramdev indicating he was not in favour of bringing the Prime Minister within the Lokpal’s purview. Anna Hazare and his supporters on the joint drafting committee, however, say they “will try to convince Baba Ramdev to come around to their viewpoint”.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday also appealed to Baba Ramdev to call off his proposed hungerstrike which he plans to begin from June 4. The Prime Minister mentioned that corruption was “a big problem” and that “the government is committed” to tackling it with “all the resources at its disposal”.
Talking to reporters at Sehore in Madhya Pradesh, Baba Ramdev said: “The posts of Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India are highly dignified and should not come under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill.” Reacting to his comments, joint committee member Arvind Kejriwal said they would try to convince Ramdev why it was necessary to include the Prime Minister within the proposed Lokpal’s ambit. He said the yoga guru might not be aware of the full implications of the issue.
A day after civil society members hardened their stance on subjecting the PM to the Lokpal’s scrutiny, the government fielded home minister P. Chidambram and human resources development minister Kapil Sibal to present its views on the contentious legislation and the deadlock.
Sensing the gravity of the situation in the backdrop of civil society members’ threat to take to the streets once again, Mr Sibal reiterated the government’s commitment to bringing in a “robust and effective Lokpal Bill” in the coming Monsoon Session of Parliament. “We are confident we will be able to meet the June 30 deadline for drafting the proposed legislation,” Mr Sibal said.
On Baba Ramdev’s proposed fast-unto-death, Mr Sibal said efforts were on to persuade him not to proceed with it. “Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and top ministry officials are talking to Baba Ramdev to persuade him not to go ahead with his proposed indefinite hungerstrike from June 4,” the minister said.
In his letter to chief ministers and the leaders of political parties, Mr Mukherjee asked them to give their views on six issues on which consensus was proving elusive in the joint committee. The government has sought their replies before the committee’s next meeting on June 6.
The issues are: Should there be a single law to provide both a Lokpal at the Centre and a Lokayukta at the state level, and whether their governments would be willing to accept a draft provision for the Lokayukta on the same lines as that of the Lokpal? Should the Prime Minister and his office be brought under the ambit of the Lokpal; and if yes, should there be a qualified inclusion? Should judges of the Supreme Court and high courts also be covered under the proposed law?
The letter has asked the respondents to give their views on whether the conduct of parliamentarians inside the two Houses — both speaking and voting — be brought under the purview of the Lokpal as they have immunity under the Constitution.
Mr Sibal, however, contended that since the government was against any tinkering with the basic structure of the Constitution, “we are opposed to the demand relating to MPs’ conduct in the House being brought under the ambit of the Lokpal” as it would require an amendment of the Constitution.
The other question that has been asked is whether government employees at both the Centre and the state level should be subject to inquiry and/or disciplinary action including dismissal by the Lokpal and Lokayukta. It has also been asked what the definition of Lokpal should be, and whether he or she should enjoy quasi-judicial powers or be allowed to delegate them to subordinate officials.
Mr Chidambaram said he disagreed with the civil society activists’ view that Monday’s meeting was a “disaster”, and said: “In our view it was a very constructive meeting. There was a very constructive discussion. That is how we take it.”
The home minister insisted that the joint committee was on the right path, involving enquiry, discussion, consultation, consensus and decision. “There is no unanimity on the issue either among civil society members or those who have written or spoken on the issue. So we need to consult political parties and the state governments,” he added.