Government adds muscle to its weak bill to meet Anna Hazare’s strong bill standards.
The government is “fine-tuning” the draft of the Lokpal bill based on the standing committee’s recommendations, along with points raised by opposition parties and the demands of Team Anna.
The Union cabinet cleared the National Food Security Bill at a meeting on Sunday night. While Lokpal was not on the agenda, there were some discussions. A detailed note on the subject is likely to come up at the cabinet meeting today, possibly in the evening.
An informal group of ministers, comprising finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, home minister P Chidambaram, law minister Salman Khurshid and minister of state (personnel) V Narayanasamy, is reworking the draft. A source said that the ministers would brief the prime minister on the changes before the cabinet meeting.
“You all know how many days are left [for the winter session]. We have worked day and night to ensure that we meet the deadlines,” law minister Salman Khurshid told reporters on Sunday. “Let us just get the bill done and bring it to the cabinet so that it can be brought before Parliament as quickly as possible.”
The fresh bill is likely to be introduced on Tuesday or Wednesday. A law ministry source said moving several amendments [to the bill introduced in August] would be cumbersome because it would require the approval of the house at every stage. So, the government has decided to withdraw the old bill.
Opposition parties can, however, propose changes even in the new bill when it is taken up for discussion in the house. But rarely has any government accepted or incorporated changes, suggested by an opposition member, while passing the bill.
Earlier in the day, Anna Hazare accused the government of repeatedly betraying him and the people of the country while saying that he would continue his agitation till India got a strong Lokpal.
Addressing a rally in Chennai, he said, “If the bill is passed, I will send flowers to prime minister Manmohan Singh on December 27.” He made it clear that the demand for keeping the CBI within the Lokpal’s ambit could not be compromised. Hazare has said he would go on an indefinite fast from December 27 if the government failed to pass a strong Lokpal bill. Talking to reporters he praised Singh. “He is honest, clean and straightforward, but he cannot act because of remote controls, who think of themselves as the PM,” Hazare said.
A source said the new draft is likely to have the PM under the Lokpal’s purview, but with certain conditions such as three-fourth of the Lokpal bench will have to take cognisance of a complaint. Also, an inquiry against the PM has to be in-camera and Parliament will take a final call as he is primarily responsible to the Lok Sabha. The CBI, said the source, is unlikely to come under the Lokpal. But the government is thinking of a provision to create an independent “Directorate of Prosecution”, carving it out from the CBI.
The new draft is likely to provide for removal of the Lokpal chairman or any member if a joint complaint is made by at least 100 MPs, the source said. Also, the Lokpal bench might have 50% seats reserved for SC/STs, OBCs, minorities and women.
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