The government on Thursday asserted that Parliament is the final authority in making laws and a handful of people cannot claim to be the sole repository of all knowledge.
Sending out a clear message to activists drafting the Lokpal Bill, information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said, “I do not believe that four or five persons or a single NGO can claim to be better informed and be the sole repository of all knowledge.” She was asked to comment on RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal’s comments that his group would focus on electoral reforms and judicial reforms after the drafting of the Lokpal Bill.
The minister said every citizen of the country enjoyed the right to air his/her views at appropriate fora or to his elected representative but it was upto the government to incorporate the same in bills it plans to move in Parliament.
“What will be the nature of the law is for the Parliament to decide. Parliament is the final authority,” she said. The minister further added that UPA government, in the past seven years, had taken several steps that have made every person feel empowered to exercise his rights and air his views on issues of importance.
Ms Soni said the government has been making efforts to get maximum inputs from various quarters and have a national debate on issues of importance.