Hyderabad: Accusing the UPA Government of
leaving the Lokpal Bill "orphaned", Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Friday demanded that a strong anti-corruption ombudsman be created in the country.
It was the "bounden duty and responsibility" of Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to
put a strong and effective Lokpal in place, TDP President N
Chandrababu Naidu said, addressing a press conference here.
It was the duty of Government to get the Bill passed
in Parliament but it failed because it had done no proper
exercise on it, the former Chief Minister said.
"People of the country pinned a lot of hopes that a
strong Lokpal will be put in place. But the Centre belied the
hopes by acting in an irresponsible manner. The UPA Government
cannot escape responsibility (for failing to see through the
Lokpal Bill in Parliament) by putting the blame on others."
He said had the Centre convened a special session of
Parliament to discuss Lokpal and other related issues, the
entire nation's attention would have been focused on it.
"People, too, would have supported Government's
efforts as they expected Government and political parties to
act (in tune with their wishes). But Government virtually ran
away by getting the Rajya Sabha session abruptly adjourned
(late last night)," the Opposition leader maintained.
The Congress had deceived the people yet again. The
party will stoop to any level to secure power, he said. "The
way it purchased MPs during the confidence vote on nuclear
deal in 2008 bears testimony to the Congress' lust for power.
In case of Lokpal, the Congress has left the Bill orphaned."
Corruption posed a greater threat than terrorism, he
said expressed his party's commitment to fight for a strong
anti-graft agency. "Terrorists can kill 10 or 20 people but
corruption is killing everyone in this country."
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 30, 2011, 21:39