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PM defends weak Bill
The Opposition’s demand for bringing the CBI under Lokpal met with a cold response from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who also refused to see reason with the Opposition and his own allies’ concerns about the creation of Lokayuktas in States through a Central legislation — in violation of the tenets of federalism.
These two issues emerged as the main points of contention between the Government and the rest during the Lokpal debate in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, with the opposition seeking greater autonomy for the CBI by bringing it under the Lokpal and an ‘optional’ enabling provision, instead of a mandatory legislation, for the State to adopt the Central law.
Making an intervention in the debate, the PM rode roughshod over the Opposition’s contentions saying “no entity should be created inconsistent with our constitutional framework” and “federalism should not act as impediment in the war against corruption”.
Categorically saying he believes that “CBI should function independently of the Lokpal” the Prime Minister added that setting up of “ Lokayuktas in states will go a long way in addressing the sense of frustration that is reflected in the anger that we see now around us”.
Cautioning that in the “enthusiasm to enact this law we must not falter”, Singh said, “No institution and no individual, howsoever high he may be, should be free from accountability.”
In a veiled attack on Team Anna, the PM said country was given to believe that a Government directly elected by the people and accountable to it cannot be trusted “but a body that will not derive its legitimacy from the people directly or be accountable to it could be trusted to wield its immense powers with honour and trust”.
As he appealed to Opposition to rise to the occasion and look beyond politics to pass this law, the PM also appeared passing the buck to the state on the issue of corruption.
“The Central Government is responsible for providing a limited number of public services directly to the citizen. The real problem lies in the domain of State Governments where the aam aadmi feels the pinch of petty corruption on a daily basis,” he said, adding, “Local as well as State authorities are charged with providing essential services to the common man. It is here that the bane of corruption needs to be fought”.
The PM said Parliament was creating something for the future in response to the inadequacies of the present and it should be mindful of the pitfalls.
The Opposition’s demand for bringing the CBI under Lokpal met with a cold response from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who also refused to see reason with the Opposition and his own allies’ concerns about the creation of Lokayuktas in States through a Central legislation — in violation of the tenets of federalism.
These two issues emerged as the main points of contention between the Government and the rest during the Lokpal debate in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, with the opposition seeking greater autonomy for the CBI by bringing it under the Lokpal and an ‘optional’ enabling provision, instead of a mandatory legislation, for the State to adopt the Central law.
Making an intervention in the debate, the PM rode roughshod over the Opposition’s contentions saying “no entity should be created inconsistent with our constitutional framework” and “federalism should not act as impediment in the war against corruption”.
Categorically saying he believes that “CBI should function independently of the Lokpal” the Prime Minister added that setting up of “ Lokayuktas in states will go a long way in addressing the sense of frustration that is reflected in the anger that we see now around us”.
Cautioning that in the “enthusiasm to enact this law we must not falter”, Singh said, “No institution and no individual, howsoever high he may be, should be free from accountability.”
In a veiled attack on Team Anna, the PM said country was given to believe that a Government directly elected by the people and accountable to it cannot be trusted “but a body that will not derive its legitimacy from the people directly or be accountable to it could be trusted to wield its immense powers with honour and trust”.
As he appealed to Opposition to rise to the occasion and look beyond politics to pass this law, the PM also appeared passing the buck to the state on the issue of corruption.
“The Central Government is responsible for providing a limited number of public services directly to the citizen. The real problem lies in the domain of State Governments where the aam aadmi feels the pinch of petty corruption on a daily basis,” he said, adding, “Local as well as State authorities are charged with providing essential services to the common man. It is here that the bane of corruption needs to be fought”.
The PM said Parliament was creating something for the future in response to the inadequacies of the present and it should be mindful of the pitfalls.
