Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has said she was against bringing the Prime Minister under the Lokpal’s ambit as it would undermine his authority and pave way for a “parallel government.” “The Prime Minister should be excluded from the purview of the bill as he is already covered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the CBI can investigate,” she said on Times Now today.
Expressing fears that the bill could be used by foreign powers to “destabilise” the nation, she said if the Prime Minister was included under the Bill, he cannot function as he would have to focus more on defending himself against the accusations.
“It would seriously dent the Prime Minister’s authority even if charges were proved wrong. The Prime Minister will be put on the defensive and he has to constantly defend himself,” she said but added that the state government will give its opinion on this issue only after getting the final draft which would be tabled in Parliament.
Ms. Jayalalithaa, who had made a sensational offer of support of her party - AIADMK - to the Congress last November in case of DMK pulling out in connection with the 2G spectrum scam, however, said she was not supporting any individual.
“I am not supporting any individual but the institution. Unless he is wrested with full powers, he cannot function. Nothing should erode or undermine the Prime Minister’s authority,” she said.
Keywords: Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare, civil society activists, Jan Lokpal Bill, anti-corruption movement, PM and Lokpal
