New Delhi: Disappointed over the draft
report of the Standing Committee on Lokpal Bill, Team Anna
member Kiran Bedi has warned that going back on commitment
given by Parliament would call for a mass movement again.
When asked for her comments on the draft report which
sought to keep lower bureaucracy out of the ambit of the
ombudsman, among others, Bedi said: "This is going back on
the commitment and will call for mass movement again."
The Standing Committee has also recommended keeping out
judiciary and MPs' conduct in House out of the Lokpal's
purview and rejected the demand for hiving off the
anti-corruption wing of CBI to come under its jurisdiction.
Team Anna has been insisting that the lower bureaucracy,
higher judiciary, provisions for Citizen Charter and setting
up of Lokayuktas in state level be included in the ambit of
Lokpal Bill.
Bedi called the exclusion of judiciary a setback to
people's demands as people "overwhelmingly" wanted judiciary
in. "By this, corruption in judiciary is covered nowhere,
neither in Judicial Accountability Bill nor in Lokpal."
Bedi also said that if the anti-corruption wing of CBI
does not come under Lokpal's jurisdiction, the country will
never see successful expeditious prosecutions of the high and
mighty.
Reacting to members unanimously recommending conferring
constitutional status on Lokpal, Bedi expressed apprehension
that "this may become the reason for not having it".
"For the government in power does not have a two thirds
majority in Parliament. It will be used to not pass the bill,"
she said.
However, she welcomed the proposal to bring corporates,
media and NGOs under the ambit of Lokpal. "This is welcome.
Need to know the exact provisions," she said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 11:04