New Delhi: As Parliamentary Standing
Committee went back on some of its recommendations on Lokpal
Bill, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi on Thursday night slammed it as an
effort to make the ombdusman an "enquiry-pal" and said it
confirms her remarks that politicians wear several masks.
Bedi, who also issued an open letter to IPS officers to
support bringing CBI in the ambit of Lokpal, said Anna Hazare
and his supporters did not fight for such an anti-corruption
watchdog and they did not want another toothless body like
CVC.
"The Standing Committee report on Lokpal Bill is very
self-defeating. Lokpal is being made an `Enquiry Pal`," Bedi
said.
"How can Parliament go back on the unanimous resolution
which it passed followed by Prime Minister`s letter to Annaji
which included lower bureaucracy, citizen charter and the
Lokayuktas. The resolution was backed by PM`s letter
confirming this.
"Going back on these will only confirm what I said during
the mass agitation at Ramlila Ground that many politicians
have several masks on which I was served a privilege notice by
some Parliament members," she said.
Her comments came against the backdrop of Parliamentary
Committee deciding to exclude class `C` employees from Lokpal,
an issue on which a consensus had arrived yesterday.
Contending that they have not agitated for "another CVC
(Central Vigilance Commission) which does not have any power",
she said, "CBI is the chief chef for cooking (probes) and
Lokpal the bearer (prosecution) serving what is there."
"CBI is hamstrung. It needs to be set free. Its current
occupants need help. Why is Government not letting go of CBI?
Government is afraid of losing control of CBI," she said.
She said the the ball is now "in the the court of the
Opposition and ours too. Do we let this enslavement continue?
Or strive to change? I pray Opposition unites to bring CBI`s
anti corruption wing under Lokpal."
PTI
