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The Public Concern for Governance Trust (PCGT), a prominent NGO in the city fighting against corruption, has stated that while it lauds Anna Hazare’s initiative and welcomes the anti-corruption movement launched by his followers and other activists, it believes provisions of the draft Jan Lokpal Bill require vital modifications.
A release by the PCGT said the Jan Lokpal Bill takes the extreme step of concentrating power in one person’s hand, which is “a very dangerous proposition”.
Julio Ribeiro, former commissioner of Mumbai Police and one of the founding members of the PCGT, said on Thursday that he has been flooded with queries about why PCGT was not participating in the movement. “We are in complete support of Hazare, who is the perfect symbol of fighting corruption. But there are some aspects of the Bill that we do not agree with. We too want the Lokpal and the Lokayukta to have the authority to order inquiries into allegations of corruption against ministers and senior bureaucrats without the government’s permission. But the PCGT will not like to see an institution which overrides Constitutional authorities like the Cabinet and the courts,” said Ribeiro.
In July 2003, the PCGT had supported the campaign undertaken by Hazare demanding the implementation of the RTI Act. Ribeiro and others were with Hazare on the dais at Azad Maidan when he undertook a fast for the Act.
He added that the PCGT totally rejects the government’s Lokpal Bill because it is toothless and does not display any intent to fight corruption. Other trustees of the PCGT include retired bureaucrat B G Deshmukh and retired police commissioners Satish Sahney, R H Mendonca and sociologist Nandini Sardesai.
Ribeiro said he will attend the meeting scheduled later this month in New Delhi by Loksatta leader Jayaprakash Narayan to discuss the provisions of the Bill in a participative way. “The meeting is expected to have various NGOs and think tanks giving their suggestions and objections to the Bill. I will be attending the same to put forward PCGT’s viewpoint,” said Ribeiro.
Meanwhile, the PCGT has launched an anti-corruption cell where any person who is asked to pay bribe by a government official can call (office numbers 23526426 or 23526452) or visit. From June 1, the PCGT will assist such persons get their work done without having to pay bribe.
A release by the PCGT said the Jan Lokpal Bill takes the extreme step of concentrating power in one person’s hand, which is “a very dangerous proposition”.
Julio Ribeiro, former commissioner of Mumbai Police and one of the founding members of the PCGT, said on Thursday that he has been flooded with queries about why PCGT was not participating in the movement. “We are in complete support of Hazare, who is the perfect symbol of fighting corruption. But there are some aspects of the Bill that we do not agree with. We too want the Lokpal and the Lokayukta to have the authority to order inquiries into allegations of corruption against ministers and senior bureaucrats without the government’s permission. But the PCGT will not like to see an institution which overrides Constitutional authorities like the Cabinet and the courts,” said Ribeiro.
In July 2003, the PCGT had supported the campaign undertaken by Hazare demanding the implementation of the RTI Act. Ribeiro and others were with Hazare on the dais at Azad Maidan when he undertook a fast for the Act.
He added that the PCGT totally rejects the government’s Lokpal Bill because it is toothless and does not display any intent to fight corruption. Other trustees of the PCGT include retired bureaucrat B G Deshmukh and retired police commissioners Satish Sahney, R H Mendonca and sociologist Nandini Sardesai.
Ribeiro said he will attend the meeting scheduled later this month in New Delhi by Loksatta leader Jayaprakash Narayan to discuss the provisions of the Bill in a participative way. “The meeting is expected to have various NGOs and think tanks giving their suggestions and objections to the Bill. I will be attending the same to put forward PCGT’s viewpoint,” said Ribeiro.
Meanwhile, the PCGT has launched an anti-corruption cell where any person who is asked to pay bribe by a government official can call (office numbers 23526426 or 23526452) or visit. From June 1, the PCGT will assist such persons get their work done without having to pay bribe.
