IANS/New Delhi
The government yesterday stuck to its promise by introducing the much-debated anti-graft Lokpal bill in the Lok Sabha, which predictably elicited protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and civil society activists led by Anna Hazare for excluding the prime minister from its ambit.
Supporters of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare burn copies of the Lokpal Bill during a protest on the outskirts of New Delhi yesterday
The bill, which was approved by the union Cabinet last month, was introduced by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, V Narayanasamy, after the government rejected BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s opposition.
Before the introduction of the bill, Speaker Meira Kumar gave permission to Sushma Swaraj, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, to express her views as a special case under Rule 72.
Swaraj demanded that the prime minister be brought within the anti-corruption law’s ambit even while he or she held office.
“While all other laws such as the penal code and the Prevention of Corruption Act are applicable to all, why should the Lokpal bill exclude the prime minister? Also, when the bill covers the council of ministers, how is the prime minister different?” she wanted to know.
“Why is the prime minister out of it?” she asked.
“I am happy the prime minister himself said that it is okay if he is brought within the ambit of the Lokpal bill. Then why is the Cabinet not paying heed to him, and why are his colleagues opposing it?” she added.
The BJP leader asked the government to amend the draft legislation to bring the prime minister under the draft law’s purview and bring it back to the House. “Then, we will support it and get it passed in the House,” she said.
Narayanasamy defended the introduction of the bill, saying it had become the property of the House now. He also said the draft law will be immediately sent to the parliamentary standing committee.
The bill sparked furious protests from civil society representatives led by Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, who burnt copies of the bill in Maharashtra’s Ralegaon Siddhi.
Some of Hazare’s supporters, including Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi, led the protest in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi area in Ghaziabad.
An incensed Hazare thundered that it was the last chance to eradicate corruption from the country and that protests should be organised all over the country to ensure that a strong Lokpal bill is brought in.
“This is a bad and weak bill... which is introduced in parliament. We need a new and strong bill. I trusted them when they said they will bring a strong law and ended my fast in April. They cheated me,” he said.
Hazare vowed to go on fast from August 16 and warned that he will not withdraw from fast on any assurances.
Kejriwal slammed the bill as “anti-poor and anti-Dalit” and contended that by bringing a “weak” Lokpal bill, the government was challenging the countrymen.