Lokpal: BJP, CPM to move amendments

Will strengthen 'ineffective and weak' Lokpal

PTI | December 26, 2011



Cranking up pressure a day before the Lokpal Bill comes up for debate before Lok Sabha, the CPI-M today said it will move concrete amendments that includes creation of a separate investigation wing to further strengthen the measure which is "ineffective" in its present form.

"We are moving some concrete amendments which we think will further strengthen the Lokpal because the bill, as it conceives of the Lokpal right now, ... we are not very happy in the sense that it is not an effective Lokpal," CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

The Left parties insist that they want to amend the present Bill on various counts, especially to provide for a separate investigating wing to probe corruption or inclusion of CBI's anti-corruption wing under the ombudsman's ambit.

The CPI(M) also wants inclusion of corporate crime in the jurisdiction of Lokpal, particularly those cases which cause a loss to the public exchequer and has the involvement of public servants.

The major Left party has already objected to the inclusion of the mandatory provision of creation of Lokayuktas in states on the Lokpal model, saying it would damage the federal structure and intervene in the powers of states. It wants separate provisions or a model bill for the purpose which could be adopted by the states.

The CPI(M) is also expected to move amendments on the selection and composition of the Lokpal and its members with a view to broadbase the selection process.

It would also seek widening of the definition of corruption to include wilful grant of undue benefits to any person or party (company) by a public servant or obtaining of undue benefits, Left sources said referring to 2G and other scams.

Currently, the sources said that power was being misused to benefit an entity like a private company which is not a "person" as required under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Often, there would be no traceable kickbacks or embezzlement but a huge loss to public exchequer and breach of public trust, they said, adding that such instances could also be seen in the privatisation of state-run firms through "wilful misuse of power."

The sources said the Left parties would submit amendments seeking the inclusion of corporate fraud and provision for immediate cancellation of licences of corporates involved in corruption.

Maintaining that 'plutocracy' or rule of wealth has come to dominate the political system, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat recently said the "neo-liberal regime has led to an exponential rise in corruption. Much of this corruption stems from the big business-ruling politician-bureaucratic nexus which has been established."

He said the rule by the governments of the UPA and NDA have shown how policy making has been "suborned to serve the interests of big business and how privatization and loot of natural resources are facilitated by this nexus in operation."

The Left would also press for changes in the existing legislation to ensure more clarity in the functioning of the Lokpal, the sources added

Meanwhile, BJP also issued a statement in the evening that it would move amendments to the Lokpal Bill in Parliament to make it more strong and independent, Party General Secretary and in-charge for Madhya Pradesh Ananth Kumar said here today.

Inaugurating a two-day meeting of the executive committee of the State BJP here, Kumar said his party was not in favour of the present Lokpal Bill and added that it would go the same way as the FDI Bill.

The BJP General Secretary said his party was in favour of a strong and independent Lokpal because of which it would move amendments to the present Lokpal bill.

He said it was not right to introduce the element of reservation in Lokpal on the basis of religion or minorities.

The BJP General Secretary strongly criticised the Centre for discriminating against Madhya Pradesh in various matters including construction of roads and supply of fertilisers.

Kumar expressed confidence that the BJP would win the 2013 assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and asked party workers to get ready for them.

State BJP President Prabhat Jha said his party would not ask for money from the rich and the influential but collect it from the common people.

He said the 2013 assembly elections would be fought under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and claimed that the BJP would win them.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter