Kanpur (UP): Expressing dissatisfaction with various provisions of Lokpal Bill, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Friday suggested a number of changes in the legislation like giving the power to remove Lokpal to the Supreme Court rather than the President.
Karat, who was here to participate at the Left party's
20th state conference here, also suggested for reducing the
number of government representatives involved in the selection
process of Lokpal.
He said more independent members should be there in the
selection committee.
"The ombudsman should also have its own investigative
agency to probe the complaints that are brought to its
notice," Karat told reporters after the meeting.
"There are talks that the power to remove the Lokpal will
be given to the President. But we demand that this power
should remain with the Supreme Court alone. Besides, the
proposed state Lokayuktas should not be formed under a central
law," he said.
Karat said it was interesting that neither Team Anna nor
the government had given any thoughts about how to deal with
the corrupt businessmen and corporate houses.
Giving the example of the 2G spectrum scam, Karat called
for norms forcing the corporates to return the money made by
them through fraudulent means to the government treasury if
any such case is exposed.
Karat also accused the UPA government of becoming a
"junior partner" of the US. He alleged that the recent
decision of 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail was taken
under America's pressure.
The CPI(M) general secretary said the UPA government was
keen on FDI during its first tenure itself, but was opposed by
the Left parties, who were supporting it then.
Taking on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the violence
in West Bengal, Karat alleged that as many as 50 CPI(M)
workers have died there in political violence ever since the
Trinamool Congress had come to power in the state.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 23, 2011, 22:15