Lokpal panel still divided on inclusion of PM
Wednesday November 30, 2011 10:36:15 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: The
parliamentary standing committee on law and justice, examining the Lokpal bill, Wednesday remained divided over bringing the prime
minister under the anti-graft ombudsman even as Anna Hazare
threatened to launch a protest if the legislation is not passed in
the winter session which ends Dec 21.
Chairman of the panel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told NDTV news channel
that among the three options being considered are to include the
prime minister fully but defer prosecution, exclude him absolutely
and to include him but with substantive exclusion on subject
matter under the Lokpal.
"We have not reached the stage of adoption, rejection or
dissension on the prime minister," he said.
But sources said opposition members from the Bharatiya Janata
Party, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of
India-Marxist plan to give dissent notes to the panel on the
issue.
Interestingly, Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan has
also given a dissent note to the panel asking reservation for
Dalit, backwards and minorities in the Lokpal.
Besides bringing the prime minister under the Lokpal, the other
issue to be resolved is inclusion of lower bureaucracy under the
anti-graft ombudsman as demanded by Anna and a citizen's charter.
While there is general agreement on bringing Group A and B staff
under the Lokpal, some opposition members want the Group C and D
staff also to be under the anti-graft ombudsman.
There is general agreement on a constitutional status for the
Lokpal, retaining the autonomy of the Central Bureau of
Investigation and the Central Vigilance Commission, and keeping
the judiciary out of its ambit, said sources.
Once the standing committee has submitted its recommendations to
parliament, the government can introduce the Lokpal bill.
The development comes in the wake of reports that Anna Hazare
plans to stage a day-long protest at Jantar Mantar Dec 11
demanding a strong Lokpal bill and an extended one at Ramlila
Ground Dec 27-Jan 5 if the bill is not passed in the ongoing
winter session of parliament.
Once the standing committee submits its recommendations to
parliament, the government can introduce the new draft Lokpal
bill.
"This is a conspiracy to weaken Lokpal Bill," said Anna.
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