- News>
- India
Prakash Karat suggests changes in Lokpal Bill
Expressing dissatisfaction with various provisions of Lokpal Bill, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat Friday suggested a number of changes in it.
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
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