The Samajwadi Party on Wednesday claimed that the enactment of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 would lead to the collapse of governance in the country as officers would shy away from signing any file for fear of prosecution.
The party opposed the Bill and staged a walkout from both Houses when it was being debated.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said the new system would result in a serious situation as even an inspector would have the power to question the Prime Minister.
Taking a dig at the BJP for supporting the Bill, Mr. Yadav asked: “Are the BJP and the Congress only parties which were concerned about corruption in public life.”
“This is a very serious issue. Why do we need this kind of Bill,” he said, demanding that the Bill be withdrawn and be taken after a thorough discussion in the next session of the Parliament. “I am surprised at the Opposition’s support for this Bill,” Mr. Yadav said and urged senior BJP leader L.K. Advani to oppose the Bill as he led a walkout of SP MPs.
Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United), who supported the Bill, also had some reservations over the new law. Nowhere in the world was the Prime Minister accountable to an agency outside Parliament as was being made in India, Mr. Yadav said.
