Nitish welcomes suggestions on Lokayukta

Cong backs Nitish's stand on Bihar Lokayukta Bill

PTI | November 11, 2011



Expressing his resolve for constituting "a strong and effective" Lokayukta, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said he would appreciate suggestions from any individual, team or groups for it.

"We will appreciate suggestions or opinions from any individual, team or groups on constituting a strong and effective Lokayukta," Kumar said on the sidelines of his 'Janata Darbar' (public hearing) programme in Bettiah.

Stating that the proposed draft for the Lokayukta was discussed by the state cabinet on Tuesday and it was "not final", Kumar said the cabinet had decided to place the draft on the government's websites to elicit opinions from various sections.

"We have called an all-party meeting in Patna on November 26 for consultations on the proposal," Kumar said, adding his intention was quite clear to bring chief minister, ministers and officials within the ambit of Lokayukta.

The cabinet had set up a three-member ministerial committee headed by deputy chief minister S K Modi to fine-tune the draft and it would once again be placed for discussion for final approval by the cabinet after he would personally vet the draft, Kumar said.

Stating that his government can enact a legislation which is permitted within the legislative purview, Kumar said he had never believed in "doing something merely as show".

"I made my statement on team Anna yesterday because the mediamen approached me for the same... I don't harbour any grudge against any group or team on any matter," the Chief Minister said.

The proposed Lokayukta would have its special investigation wing, he said, adding that the bill would be tabled during the winter session of the state legislature.

Apparently stung by Team Anna's rap on the proposed Bihar Lokayukta Bill, Kumar had yesterday said he did not require anybody's certificate in the crusade against corruption.

"Mujhe kisi ke certificate ki jarurat nahih hai (I don't need anybody's certificate)," he had said.

He reacted to Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal's view that the Bihar Lokayukta Bill was a copy of the Centre's Lokpal and cautioned the former to guard against pre-judging the final outcome of the Bill.

Congress today backed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's stand on the issue of the state Lokayukta Bill and said that elected representatives are "answerable" only to the people.

Kumar had yesterday said he does not require anybody's certificate in the crusade against corruption in the state, a stand which Congress spokesman Manish Tewari also supported.

"In Parliament and in (state) assemblies, elected representatives owe their answer to the people," Tewari told reporters here.

"His (Nitish's) statement is self-speaking. At the root of his entire assertion is the fact that elected representatives owe their answers to the people," Tewari said adding, "The essence of Kumar's statement is correct."

Nitish had reacted sharply to Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal's criticism of the Bihar Lokayukta Bill and asked Team Anna to be on guard against pre-judging the final outcome of the Bill.

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