New Delhi: Amid a strong anti-corruption
campaign led by Anna Hazare, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday said Parliament should set aside all business and
pass a strong Lokpal Bill at the earliest so that questions
raised over the credibility of Legislature are answered.
The Rajya Sabha member wrote a letter to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, saying it would be "arrogance and stupidity"
on part of the Legislature to ignore the tremendous public
anger against corruption that is being spearheaded by Hazare
and his associates.
"I am writing this letter with sadness. As a common
citizen, whatever I am witnessing, it hurts. But as an MP and
social worker, I feel ashamed," said the BJP Vice President
and former Union Minister in his letter.
Expressing pride in Parliamentary democracy and
Constitutional set-up, he said, "The web of rules and laws"
should, however, not be used as a "shield" to stand in the
way of a strong Lokpal.
"Today, there is tremendous public anger over corruption
and a unique situation has arisen. The credibility of
Parliament and Constitution is facing testing times.It will be
arrogance and stupidity to reject the voice raised by Anna
Hazare and his supporters," Naqvi wrote.
Treating the anti-corruption campaign as "a bugle of
'Mahabharata', he said, it will have to be recognised and
accepted.
"The rights and power of Parliament should not represent
stubbornness. He said that before the spark of public anger
reaches the seat of democracy, "it is my request that we
should set aside all legislative work and take up Lokpal Bill.
"If need be, a special session of Parliament should be
convened and a strong Lokpal be passed at the earliest so
that the trust in Parliament that is shaken is restored.This
should be the priority for Parliament."
PTI
First Published: Saturday, August 20, 2011, 11:42