When Hazare met Chavan ahead of his proposed second leg of his campaign, the chief minister assured him that the state would pursue for the model Act with the Centre.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has backed social crusader Anna Hazare in his move to fight corruption.
When Hazare met Chavan on Thursday ahead of his proposed second leg of his campaign, the chief minister assured him that the state would pursue for the model Act with the Centre.
The state government has written to the Centre for the model Lokayukta Act that will maintain uniformity of provisions against graft cases across the country.
Chavan said he wants the strong Lokayukta Act in place in the state. "There is no doubt that the existing Lokayukta Act is toothless and has only recommenders powers and not the obligatory ones. I agree with Hazare that a stronger Lokayukta should be enacted," he said.
Chavan said that since the inclusion of the provisions for the Lokayukta in the Lokpal bill tabled in the parliament seems to be impossible, the state has asked the Centre for the model Lokayukta Act.
"If the Centre passes a model Act, it would help states maintain uniformity in the provisions. Though the states would have the choice of diluting or strengthening the provisions of the Act, the unnecessary comparisons may be avoided," he said.
Chavan said the Union government was in favour of the model Act and he was going to pursue it by meeting ministers, including Union law minister.
The government was studying the Uttarakhand and Karnataka Lokayukta Acts which are stronger than the one in Maharashtra. "Hazare too has given us his draft of the Lokayukta Act. We will study the draft along with the one submitted by him earlier and act accordingly," he said.
Chavan said Anna has the right to gather consensus for his campaign and his meeting with political leaders from other parties cannot be objected to. He said Anna was not against his government or party. "He is visiting all districts of Maharashtra. He will take up the matter of drought in the districts he visits. The situation in the state is serious, but the government has taken all security measures," he said.
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