Stormy monsoon session starts today; Lokpal Bill to be introduced in Lok Sabha by August 3
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said bringing the office of Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal would “not be advisable.”
The government took the decision after “taking all factors into account,” Dr. Singh told journalists in the Parliament House.
Earlier he had said he was not opposed to the office of Prime Minister being brought within the Lokpal's purview.
“Well, our government has taken a view taking all factors into account. It would not be advisable to bring the Prime Minister within the purview of the Lokpal, except when he demits office,” Dr. Singh said.
His remarks come on the eve of the monsoon session of Parliament. The Lokpal Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha by August 3.
Referring to social activist Anna Hazare's threat to go on fast from August 16 in protest against a “weak” Lokpal Bill, he said the Bill's fate would be decided by Parliament. “As you know, we are ready with the Lokpal Bill and its fate will be decided by Parliament. In a democracy, Parliament is a sovereign body; it should be allowed to function and discharge its duty.”
Indications from the Opposition signal a stormy Parliament session as it plans to corner the government on 2G scam, price rise, Telangana, relations with Pakistan, terrorism and an ailing Air India.
The Prime Minister said the Opposition too had “many skeletons in its cupboard.” “We are not afraid of discussing issues of corruption. The Opposition also has too many skeletons in its cupboard. We are not afraid of discussing any issue,” he said when asked whether the government apprehended a tough session.
Price rise, corruption
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said it would be seen in Parliament “who attacks whom” in the five-week session. “We would like the House to function so that the issues are discussed. The issue of price rise concerns the common man; the issue of corruption too is there and so is the issue of internal security relating to Mumbai blasts. The situation in Telangana has taken a big shape, Naxalism is raising its fangs. Air India is in a bad shape,” she said.
The Opposition had given notice on international issues such as the pre-conditions set by the Nuclear Suppliers Group and attacks on Indian fishermen in the Sri Lankan waters.
While the Opposition had no differences on the issues, there appears to be a divergence of the modalities, with the Left and few other parties deciding to give a notice to the Speaker on moving an adjournment motion on price rise.
“This is one way of Parliament expressing how concerned it is on a burning issue that it has decided to keep aside all other business and discuss price rise that is affecting everyone,” CPI Parliamentary Party leader Gurudas Dasgupta told The Hindu.
The CPI leader said he spoke to leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Biju Janata Dal, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and all agreed to give similar notices. While the notice on Monday might not be taken up as the House was expected to adjourn in memory of Bhajan Lal, who passed away recently, the procedure would be repeated the following day, Mr. Dasgupta said.
Keywords: Manmohan Singh, Lokpal Bill, Monsoon Session, Anna Hazare, Jan Lokpal
At the time of independance and creation of constitution Politicians were with people and at least it is believed that they serve people and work for people. Now things are changed.Politicians are against people.Over last decade there is a new division in country where politicans are on One side and People are on another side!!!!. So called leaders are fighting against people who elected them!!!!
The same PM while interacting with editors a few days ago which was aimed at image revival of the Government told that he had no problem with the Prime Minister being brought under jurisdiction of Lokpal but his cabinet colleagues did not think the same way. Now, he himself does not find it advisable to bring PM under Lokpal. I wonder what are the compelling factors that forced him to change his personal stance in such a short span of time.
Shouldn't India progress?Shouldn't we root out corruption from our society?Then why isn't the PM denying to be brought under the ambit of Lokpal?What is his intention and why can't he explain the factors that he talks about? When will India ever develop into a superpower?
The PM must explain the so called 'factors' due to which he is not brought under the ambit of Lokpal
Every now and then politicians in power are talking about sovereignity of the Parliament [as legislative and executive authority] and judiciary. [May be to sustain Dynastic Rule.] But do they know that this comes from the Constitution itself? THE PEOPLE, is the source of this. In fact the authority is delegated to politicians in power for a said period and not for life time. In a Democracy like ours peoples want to check and balance the functioning of delegated authority. So WE, THE PEOPLE, want to curb the intention of tax and revenue looters. So if politicians in power are quite honest, why are they fearing and taking excuses from the very authority of the people itself? Only for personal reasons, or to strengthen the intention of looters of exchequer.
During the altercations on Lokpal Bill, perhaps the most quoted sentence would be that "India is a democracy and in a democracy Parliament is supreme". We all know this for the fact and also that it is by the Constitution that India is a democracy. But it appears that our respected parliamentarians either forgot or haven't read the very first line of our Constitution, "We, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC...". It is not by the parliament but by the people, the governed, that this country has a parliament and the elected should never forget this. It is disheartening to hear the ill-quoted statement coming from the head of government. This indecisiveness does not bode well for the largest democracy.
The government took the decision after “taking all factors into account,” Dr. Singh told journalists in the Parliament House.
Seriously, what are those factors ? As a citizen of India, i want to understand the factors that would stop PM being under the perview of Lokpal. If the factors are genuine, let Mr. Singh talk about it openly.
It has been proved that the Prime Minister of India doesn't have any control over his cabinet otherwise the cabinet would have approved the proposal of the PM to bring the Prime Minister's office in the LOKPAL purview. The UPA will not act against corruption.
The Lokpal seems to be the most extensive form of Right to Information act 2005.How can the PM after agreeing to be in Lokpal's purview can deny the same? This may be studied deeply but what happens on the floor of the parliament and the provisions of Lokpal Act will be the final verdict, deciding India's future.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a public servant of impeccable character.But, does he have the courage of conviction to protect the future of this great nation? If it is so, it is time that he strike out for the country rather than the Congress party presided by the Gandhi family !! otherwise all the good the PM did since 1991 will come to nought.
In his blatant expression,“As you know, we are ready with the Lokpal Bill and its fate will be decided by Parliament. In a democracy, Parliament is a sovereign body; it should be allowed to function and discharge its duty.” Mnmohan singh clearly indicates the intentions of his coalition......agreed that the constitution gives supremacy to the parliament to decide on everything.....but its high time that the so called govt is by far surpassing its authority.......
Well if people's words are not heard by the government, then its high time for the people to show what really is important for the government. Government is like an Administrative Department of a Company where the people are its Employers & Employees. If the Administrative department is not functioning properly, the Employers has to replace it, even completely if needed.
Prime Minister probably should have clarity to himself first. First he said he was not against the Prime minster coming uder the purview of Lokpal Bill. Now he takes a U turn and says that it is not advisable for the PM to come under the purview untill he or she demits the office. Does it mean that once elected, the government is at free hand to do anything for five years unquestionably? Manmohan singh has to realize that the future might not see a so called honest Prime Minister and all the actions should keep in mind taking into account the the future of our nation and the generations to come.
PM should be ashamed to play a blame game when he refers to "many skeletons in its cupboard" . This is the reason India is unable to fight corruption.Instead of providing a proper justification for the various scan, he is passing the buck. If a PM cannot address an issue , how can he address a nation ?
Rabindranath TAGORE speaking about a foreign colonial govt said, "Even the most despotic government cannot stand except for the consent of the governed which consent is often forcibly procured by the despot. Immediately the subject ceases to fear the despotic force, his power is gone." (Young India, 30 June 1920). Would it not be fantastic if the Parliamentarians of the democratic republic of India would hear the desperate cries of their own people - the vast majority of citizens (excepting the few but very powerful vested interests who have benefited from corruption) pleading to be allowed to live a less stressful life, without the incessant harassment of bribery and corruption affecting every aspect of their daily living? Unchecked, experts and respectable newspapers fear that the present corrupt environment would derail India's economic progress and could fracture Indian society. With 30% of the citizens still below poverty line such an outcome could be devastating.
How about the Lokpal sans the current PM? We The People agree. I am sure the PM (again reminder, non-elected PM) should agree too.
Recent spate of scams is a signal that all including PM, MPs, Judiciary and other elected bodies should be covered under the Lokpal Bill. There is a necessity for the fourth organ i.e. Lokpal to check corruption) of the government, besides legislative, executives and judiciary.
As we all expected, Lokpal bill issue has been overwhelmed by the politicians. The controversy existed only a few weeks and the ordinary people went back to their life. They don't even know what happened in the discussion for the Lokpal bill.
PM was ambivalent of bringing PM under the ambit of LOKPAL bill. Once he says, he is 'not opposed' to it and now he says it is 'not advisable'. but, happy to hear that LOKPAL bill we be tabled on AUG 3rd. Better late than never.
The confusion of Lokpal's purview has been a debatable issue since its proposal.Before making it a law,we need to deeply study the 'Ombudsman system' of Europe.We must correctly analyze its success and failure in Indian context and also study in depth about its nature ,organization and working in European nations.There should be a provision for further amendments and changes also.The lawlessness and corruption checking are the main aims of this bill-and it should be implemented without discrimination on any grounds.
In USA there is impeachment against the president.Office of PMO must be accountable to some terms of these acts. Else, it appears we have banana setup.
UPA is increasingly brazen and shameless in its position. 1) It seems to be saying that since they got elected to power, they can do whatever they want regardless of people's wishes. "In a democracy, Parliament is a sovereign body" implies that. 2) Their response to opposition seems to be one of blackmail. If you push us, we'll expose your corruption or whatever. This threat is disgusting in its nakedness. Also, the question people should be asking is: if UPA is aware of "skeletons in opposition's closet", what are you waiting for? Instead of prosecuting the opposition, you want to use these 'skeletons' for blackmail? And, these are the words of our supposedly learned prime minister.
Can PM explain what factors were taken into account when deciding that PM should not come under ambit of Lokpal Bill? "We are not afraid of discussing issues of corruption" he keeps on saying. When he weill stop making this statement and start acting? This single inefficiency on his part makes a strong case for inclusion of PM office under the Lokpal. By not taking strong action against corruption, Manmohan Singh has proved himself to be guilty of doing the greatest disservice to the nation and to the people of India. What he is afraid of? That if he undertakes the job, he would be betraying those on most powerful positions in India? That among those found guilty there may also be politicians of repute, or worse still bureaucrats who could damn many reputations by revealing secrets best known only to them? Tell us Prime Minister. Tell us when we can expect action from you?
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