Team Anna attacks govt, says new Lokpal bill unacceptable

New Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha tomorrow

PTI | December 21, 2011



Keeping up the heat, Team Anna on Wednesday attacked the government for excluding CBI out of Lokpal's ambit, saying it "totally destroys" the anti-corruption mechanism in the country by not giving the investigating arm to the ombudsman.

"If the CBI is outside, then how will the Lokpal be strong? This system will save corrupt politicians. If CBI comes under Lokpal then (home minister) P Chidambaram will be in jail. You are saving corrupt politicians and say it is a strong Lokpal," Hazare told reporters in Ralegan Siddhi.

"It is cheating people who will teach them a lesson," he said adding he will campaign against the UPA in Uttar Pradesh and other four states going to polls early next year.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said the new bill will do "more harm than doing good" to the existing anti-graft machinery.

Another member justice Santosh Hegde said there was some "ego problem" with government in accepting certain suggestions in Jan Lokpal bill while Kiran Bedi claimed that the agency will remain under government control till immunity is given for past acts of corruption by political parties.

"The Lokpal Bill will not have even investigating powers. You will complain to Lokpal but it cannot investigate. What Lokpal is the government setting up? It means the government is cheating people," Kejriwal said.

Hegde said with CBI out of Lokpal's control, what it does will be like departmental enquiry. "This is certainly unacceptable," he said.

Bedi said on micro-blogging site Twitter, "The bill is not path breaking but breaking the path. Thank you Sonia G."

"It appears till a provision for immunity is guaranteed for past acts of corruption, political parties will ensure CBI remains in government control," she said, adding it was now 'Save CBI' campaign.

Bedi also appealed to BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley to help getting CBI out of government control. "Will you (Swaraj) and Mr (Arun) Jaitley get us?" she asked.

She said, "Have you ever heard of creating an investigating body without any investigating body? Are we dumb citizens who can be given anything?"

"This kind of Lokpal be better not passed or else it will destroy whatever is left of CBI. The government is creating an anti-corruption body without any wherewithal for investigation. Who is fooling whom?" she asked.

She said sensex will come up once public money is secure and trust deficit is reduced.

In August, Kejriwal said, when the bill was introduced it gave Lokpal investigative powers though it was "weak" in many respects. "This new bill has totally destroyed the concept instead of making it strong. The existing system of CBI is being broken," he said.

Hegde said, "The government itself seems to have expressed some favourable things in this matter earlier but when the bill is accepted by cabinet, we see that it is far below our expectations."

He said Lokpal should have control over investigation.

"The new bill gives enquiry powers to Lokpal but investigation power is with an agency which is not under its control," he said.

Meanwhile, a new Lokpal Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and the existing one withdrawn.

This was conveyed by government to main opposition BJP today along with the intention to have a three-day additional sitting of parliament from December 27 to take up this crucial Bill. BJP gave its nod to this proposal.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee held a meeting today with leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, her counterpart in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and BJP leader L K Advani to discuss the issue.

Mukherjee conveyed to the BJP that the Lokpal Bill passed by the cabinet last night can be circulated to MPs only today evening, according to sources. He also said that the existing Lokpal Bill- introduced in the monsoon session of parliament- will be withdrawn in Lok Sabha tomorrow and the new Bill introduced.

Mukherjee said that in this scenario, there was little option but to extend the winter session by three more days and discuss the Lokpal Bill from December 27 to 29.

BJP agreed to the proposal after initial reluctance. Party sources said its opposition is to the content of the Bill rather than extension of this session.

The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will meet this evening to decide on the extension.

Government is keen to ensure passage of Lokpal along with two crucial legislations- Judicial Accountability Bill and Whistleblower Protection Bill -- during the current session.

But since only two days are left, it wants additional sitting after the Christmas break.

The BAC had yesterday decided to hold an additional three day sitting from December 27 but later several MPs opposed it, prompting the government to say it will have a rethink.

Several MPs, including from the UPA coalition, are still opposed to the three day extension of the session.

Lokpal Bill was cleared last night by the Union Cabinet.

The new Bill will be a Constitution amendment Bill which will also bring the prime minister under the ambit of Lokpal with certain riders.

The Bill, however, keeps the CBI out of purview of Lokpal except on cases which are referred to it by the latter. The Lokpal will have its own wings for preliminary inquiries and prosecution.

The Lokpal will be a nine-member body including the chairperson.

Related Story

Without CBI, Lokpal a mere complainant; not acceptable: Hegde

Criticising government's move to keep CBI out of the purview of Lokpal, Team Anna member N Santosh Hegde today said the step would reduce the anti-corruption watchdog to a mere complainant which is not acceptable.

"This is unacceptable totally because now they are trying to make the Lokpal institution just a complainant, not an investigative agency", the former Supreme Court judge told PTI.

Lokpal Bill was cleared last night by the Union Cabinet.

The new Bill will be a Constitution amendment Bill which will also bring the Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal with certain riders.

The Bill, however, keeps the CBI out of purview of Lokpal except on cases which are referred to it by the latter. The Lokpal will have its own wings for preliminary inquiries and prosecution.

"From what I read in newspapers, the Lokpal institution which is going to be headed by top-level people can only enquire, then investigation is handed over to the CBI. CBI, in turn, is answerable to the Government. It does not come under Lokpal. Therefore, what's the role of Lokpal? Only an enquiry officer?", the former Karnataka Lokayukta said.

With this move, the CBI would only become "all-powerful", he said.

"If a complaint is given by the Lokpal, then that investigation will be conducted by CBI. This means Lokpal has become an ordinary complainant which will go to CBI and lodge a complaint and CBI will then investigate in the manner it likes and Lokpal will have no control in investigation part of it. This is not acceptable", Hegde said.

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