“Let government say whether it added suggestions made at all-party meet”
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh on Wednesday hinted at opposing the introduction of the Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha.
In the Lok Sabha, both these leaders used the issue of harassment of a BSP MP by SPG personnel to air their views on the Lokpal Bill. Mr. Prasad demanded that the government first state whether it had incorporated the suggestions made at the all-party meeting before introducing the Bill.
“You [chair] say maintain silence. Have we come here to maintain silence? We are here to shape the future of the country. We are going to take such a momentous decision without applying our minds. Everyone is being told to jump into the ditch, push the country. This will not happen. You [the government] decide,” the RJD chief said.
Supporting the point of order raised by the SP chief, Mr. Prasad regretted that the government was not paying attention and charged it with giving powers [to the Lokpal] to “slit the throats” of all.
He again demanded that the government take the members into confidence before asking for support to pass the Bill. “We'll decide only after seeing it. Some SPG is shoving an MP, tomorrow a daroga [police inspector] will use his elbow, slap…”
Mr. Singh raked up the issue accusing the government of seeking to give similar powers to the police. “The Lokpal Bill is not in your hands. It is in the hands of the daroga. Nothing can be done even against the daroga.”
Without naming social activist Anna Hazare, Mr. Singh questioned how the government could act in this fashion at the behest of one man. “By all means we'll oppose to the extent we can.”
Once the powers were vested with the daroga, the Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate, the SP chief warned, they would not respect the members and send them to jail whenever they wanted.
“Seriously think as to whom you are vesting the powers with. If it is in the hands of the Prime Minister, I've no objection. But if you want to give it to a daroga what do you want to do with the entire country?”
Keywords: Lokpal Bill issue, SP, RJD
This is what will happen if fodder thievies are made MPs. They are scared of any Policemen and SGPs. Of course they have reason to be scared. MPs should realize they are only the representatives of people not King. They are send to serve the people not the other way around. How surprising they suddenly become so concerned about country!!! The way things are moving this could be the last MP term for those who do not reform.
Are you feeling scare that finally police will do their job.
Even an incurable optimist will not believe that with the establishment of a strong (whatever might be the real meaning of the word 'strong' in this context)India will be magically transformed into a zero corruption land within the shortest possible time. May be, the establishment of a strong Lokpal will be a small step in considerably reducing corruption at the lower levels, because as our history tells us that it is alwaya the small fish that gets caught in the net while the big ones have always managed to escape.Lalu Prasad of all the political leaders has no right to say that the MPs are being compelled to fall in the ditch and that the Lokpal is going to slit everyone's throat. Honest guys have nothing to fear.He is worried at the possibility of the fodder scam recoiling on him and his hitherto untouched accomplices. The purpose of Lokpal will be seen as achieved only when the top political leaders with tainted background are relocated to Tihar at the earliest.
Mohandas gandhi struggled hard to get rid of the British and independence. Now Anna Hazare struggles hard with the people of India to get rid of the corrupt Congress regime under Italian Sonia and Manmohan Singh for a better life for the indians. the 2G Scam and the Commonwealth corruption are sufficient to the world to judge the regime in power. Now this Congress regime is trying to have loopholes and exempt CBI from accountability and responsibility. Shame on the Congress party!
I agree with the Yadavs. Lokpal will be just a police raj. Those who are interested should read Vijay Tendulkar's Kashiram Kotwal. It about the havoc created by a kotwal (in Pune) who was given absolute powers by the Peshwas.
Wow...Mulayam & Lalu just represented the voice of Government. Thats why they are so scared of Jan lokpal. They know they will go to jail, if janlokpal will come. Well done Anna ji. Now their true face is coming out.
Please Email the Editor