New Delhi: UPA partners, Trinamool Congress
and DMK, today struck a discordant note saying the Lokpal Bill
provisions to create Lokayuktas would encroach upon the rights
of the states.
"Don`t undermine the rights of the state legislatures.
Does the present legislation not take away the rights of the
states?" Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee asked.
He was participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the
Lokpal Bill.
Banerjee said creation of Lokayuktas under Article 253 of
the Constitution would make the central law mandatory for all
states. This article provides for laws to give effect to
international agreements and gives Parliament the power to
make any law for the whole or any part of India.
DMK leader T K S Elangovan asked the Centre to keep the
law-making powers of the states with them and protect their
rights. "Please ensure that the law-making power to create the
Lokayuktas remain with the states," he said.
Their comments, which were in line with other opposition
and regional parties, came even as the Lokpal legislation
tabled by the government in Parliament calls for creation of
Lokayuktas in states.
Maintaining that through this bill, the Lokpal would
become a "super-investigating agency", Banerjee also demanded
inclusion of corruption by corporates, bankers and the media
within the jurisdiction of the Lokpal.
The Trinamool MP also said that the bill had been brought
and asked "why should it be passed within December 27? Is it
because of hunger-strike by somebody? Dignity of the House
should be maintained. No one can put it under pressure. It
sends a wrong signal."
Supriya Sule (NCP) said also maintained that bills should
not be passed under pressure. She also said "I agree with the
Shiv Sena that the Prime Minister should not be brought within
the ambit of the Lokpal."
PTI
