New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said a "robust" system is being put in place to probe allegations of corruption in various government departments and maintained that a Jan Lokapal Bill will soon be brought to root out graft.
The Chief Minister, after a meeting with top officials of the Vigilance Department, said a helpline will be launched by Thursday to facilitate citizens to file complaints of corruption and other irregularities against government officials.
Kejriwal said the government is also preparing a draft of Swaraj Bill and will implement it by January-end.
During the meeting, Kejriwal reviewed the functioning of the unit which probes allegations of graft in various government departments.
"The helpline number will be launched by Thursday. I have announced from Ramlila Ground during the oath-taking ceremony that a helpline number would be started to register corruption complaints and catch officials seeking bribe red-handed.
"Since then, we have been working on it and now the system is ready. Besides that, some officials have been given training", Kejriwal told reporters after the meeting.
Kejriwal reiterated that the government will pass Lokpal
Bill at a special session of the assembly at the Ramlila Ground.
"We had a discussion over Lokpla bill today. We are trying to prepare a preliminary draft and we are on the track. We will pass Lokpal Bill at Ramlila Ground."
On Swaraj Bill, he said "in the next 10-15 days, we will prepare the draft of Swaraj Bill as well. We will try to pass this bill by January-end."
Expressing his concern over the vacancies in the state Vigilance Department, Kejriwal said he has raised the issue with the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Police Commissioner in this regard.
"Officers from Delhi Police join the Vigilance Department on deputation . There is a sanctioned strength of 30 police officials but only 11 are posted," Kejriwal said.
"Police Commissioner BS Bassi, who came to meet me the day I took over as Chief Minister, has assured me to provide 7-8 officials within 48 hours but nothing has happened so far," he said.
I have also written a letter to Lieutenant Governor requesting him to talk to the Police Commissioner on this matter. I will wait for one or two days more and if nothing happens I will go and meet the Police Commissioner, Kejriwal added.
Kejriwal said the work of vigilance and investigation will be given to Lokpal so that conflict of interest does not arise.
"I agree that internal enquires are done by the same government officers against whom cases are lodged. We will have to abolish this and this can only happen after bringing Lokpal Bill," he said.
Delhi government has appointed Madhya Pradesh former chief secretary SC Behar as an adviser for preparing the draft of Swaraj Bill.
Kejriwal said the government is stressing on decentralisation of power saying this can be achieved through Swaraj Bill.
"The sustainable solution is political decentralisation - giving authority to mohalla sabha. We have come with a goal to implement Swaraj. We are working in this direction as well", Kejriwal said.
On the question of making contractual workers permanent, Kejriwal said that at present the government is trying to build a political consensus and will soon initiate some action in the matter.
"They have been suffering for the last 15 years. I have asked them to give us at least 15 days, a month or more than that. There are many things we have to consider. This issue cannot be resolved in a day or two.
"Our intentions are good. We put this issue in the manifesto, then mentioned it in the letter we wrote to Congress and BJP seeking their opinion.
"Now, we have developed broad political consensus on this issue. We made it a part of Vidhan Sabha`s confidence motion and then made a part speech delivered by the Lieutenant Governor. At a political level, it is a huge progress.
We are looking into legal issues.
With PTI inputs
