[1]Anti-corruption activist and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has said the offices of the prime minister and higher judiciary should be brought under ambit of the Lokpal bill.
She said the government had rushed with the first draft of the bill ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's participation in the G-20 summit in Seoul last year in order to present a ‘clean image’ of the country.
"This just reflects the government's indifference," she added.
"The government's first draft was clearly ineffective. Bureaucrats who are among the most corrupt were excluded. Enquiry couldn't be initiated till chairperson in Rajya Sabha and Speaker in the Lok Sabha gave clearance," Bedi added.
Under the convention, the country will have to draft the bill and present it before the next G20 summit. And we want proper drafting of the bill, which should include prime minister and judiciary, Bedi said while addressing a meeting of the Federation of Gujarat Industries (FGI) here last night.
Bedi asked Chief Minister Narendra Modi to appoint a Lokayukta. "Why does the chief minister Narendra Modi not appoint a Lokayukta in Gujarat when he is getting MoUs involving investment of lakhs of crores of rupees in the state," she said.
Bedi said she was surprised over the silence maintained by various trade and industries bodies including FICCI, CII and others over the passage Lokpal bill.
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