Team Anna on Thursday rejected the Lokpal Bill tabled in Lok Sabha terming it as an “anti-people and dangerous” legislation that allows the Government to work as a “big brother”.
Demanding that the “very centralised'' model of the Bill be withdrawn and scrapped, they said a newly drafted bill should be introduced that will make the Central Bureau of Investigation autonomous and de-centralise the Lokpal to make it effective and strong.
Addressing a press conference here, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said the new Bill was “worse” than the one introduced in August as the government does not want an anti-corruption ombudsman. “Under the new Bill, the government shall have all the control over Lokpal as it will have powers to appoint and remove members at will.''
Refusing to be drawn into the controversy over including minority representation on the Lokpal, Mr. Kejriwal said, “We have no comments. Let the government follow its policy.”
Observing that “only ten per cent of the political leaders and five per cent of employees were covered under the Bill,” he pointed out “big companies are out of it.”
“Who all are in? Temples, mosques, schools, colleges, hospitals, dispensaries, cricket clubs, gurdwaras, self-help groups are under it. Even doctors, priests, maulanas, all will be deemed as public servants. The government thinks that all the citizens are corrupt but the leaders and employees are clean,” he charged.
Mr. Kejriwal said the government would have full control over the Lokpal as it would be selected by a panel dominated by political leaders and removal of Lokpal would also be fully in government hands.
“This law will make CBI completely ineffective. To say that the Lokpal will have supervision over the CBI is a myth. The CBI will be fully under the control of the government. Lokpal will only function as a postman, sending complaints to the CBI,” he said.
“Every investigation goes to the CBI. The CVC will also forward cases to CBI, Lokpal will also sent cases to CBI. The CBI is under the control of government. The whole anti-corruption investigations will remain under government control,” he rued.
Criticising the provisions in the Bill, Mr. Kejriwal said that for the first time after Independence, the government had shown so much “sensitivity” to accused officials as to make a provision to provide them free legal aid and advice. “Till now, even in the Prevention of Corruption Act, there is no provision to provide legal help to a corrupt official.”
Alleging that the Bill was making Lokpal a “den of corruption,” he said it was drafted by people who were either “weak in the knowledge of law” or so clever as to draft a Bill that promotes corruption and protects the corrupt.
Acknowledging that they were back to where they started out in April, he said Anna Hazare would go on fast for three days from December 27 at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.
It may go the Women's Bill way: Bedi
PTI reports from New Delhi:
Another Team Anna member Kiran Bedi feared that the Lokpal Bill may go the Women's Reservation Bill's way as those in power are comfortable with status quo.
“What you are seeing is nothing unexpected. It may go the Women's Bill way. There is no unity, no consensus on the issue,” she said reacting to the opposition from some political parties to the proposed legislation.
Ms. Bedi said the Bill was hurting those in power. “It appears that status quo suits those in position and power,” she told journalists.
“This country needs a national government to deliver. Or else we shall keep sliding back. Can this happen in national interest,” she added.
Criticising the new Bill, she said it needed a “wholesale rewrite” or else it shall be one “big liability.”
“When did people agitate for Enquiry Pal? Or a Lokpal to vet chargesheets filed by the CBI? Or an agency to outsource investigation?” she added.
