Congress wants to delay Lokpal bill: Sushil Kumar Modi

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi Tuesday accused the Congress of hatching a conspiracy to delay the proposed Lokpal Bill for long on the pretext of formulating a mechanism to grant a constitutional status to the anti-corruption body.

The intention of the Congress on the Lokpal issue is not sincere as it wants to delay the legislative process to set up a Lokpal by proposing to find a mechanism in which it could be given constitutional status as suggested by the AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, he told reporters here.

The Congress was indulging in delaying tactics on the Lokpal issue as a bill to grant constitutional status to the anti-corruption body has to be passed by two-third majority in both houses of Parliament and ratified by half of the states, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Instead of getting into 'time consuming' tactics, the Congress should act fast in deference to public sentiment as reflected by the nationwide agitation led by Anna Hazare and set up a strong Lokpal at the earliest, he said.

The people of the country wanted to tolerate corruption no more, Modi said.