The BJP objected to recent statements of union ministers Kapil Sibal and Salman Khurshid on the proposed Lokpal Bill and said that the two leaders were being confrontationist instead of building a consensus.
The BJP today objected to recent statements of union ministers Kapil Sibal and Salman Khurshid on the proposed Lokpal Bill and insisted that though the two leaders were part of the drafting committee, they were being confrontationist instead of building a consensus.
"The government's half-hearted approach or not having a heart at all in bringing an effective Lokpal Bill is coming out. We all observed how Anna Hazare's fast served as a magnet for people to come out against failure of the government to fight corruption," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.
She alleged that the Congress did not have "its heart in this matter fully" and maintained there were several instances to prove it.
"To choose Kapil Sibal to go and negotiate with Hazare itself smacks that they are not fully into this matter of fight against corruption. Here is a minister who spoke that there was no scam (2G spectrum) at all, no loss at all. That minister was chosen to negotiate in getting an effective draft bill for fighting against corruption," Sitharaman said.
"The same person has been appointed in the committee for drafting what we hope will be an effective Bill to fight corruption," she added.
Recalling some reportedly contentious statements made by Sibal, the BJP leader said it was a matter of concern.
"Say one thing today, retract tomorrow. That has been his standing. The kind of comments Sibal is making, even for the first meeting (of the joint drafting committee) on April 16, does not instill confidence that the government or the Congress is working to get a meaningful consensus," she said.
The main opposition alleged that the government was choosing a "route of confrontation" instead of ideally wanting a consensus.
"It does not give us the picture that they are working to build a consensus inside and outside Parliament," she said, asking what was the need for making such comments even before the first meeting of the panel.
"Suspicions and doubts are being raised by Salman Khurshid also. Do they (Sibal and Khurshid) represent the views of the Congress?" Sitharaman said, adding it does not "instill confidence" that the government is trying to build a consensus.
Asked why BJP had a problem with Sibal's presence in the committee when Hazare himself had no problems, she said, "Our problem is about the way his comments are misleading the people."
Sitharaman read out to the press some statements reportedly made by Sibal.
"Sibal said if a poor kid does not have the means to go to school, how can the Lokpal Bill help? If a poor man cannot get a sick child to hospital without seeking help from the politicians how can the Bill offer any succour? Can the Bill provide for sanitation and water. Those who did not have a landline phone earlier have mobile phones," Sitharaman said, quoting the minister..
The BJP leader also referred to comments of Khurshid, who reportedly said that Congress supports the Lokpal Bill in principal but the issue now is how to build a consensus on it among political parties and then Parliament.
"Statements which create doubts in the minds of the people should not be made at this time," she said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}