New Delhi: Arguing for inclusion of dalits and minorities in Lokpal system, National Advisory Committee member Aruna Roy today said any law without provisions for these communities is invalid.
Addressing a rally organised by Udit Raj-led All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, she said, "Any Lokpal or law should not keep out the minorities. A law without provisions for minorities is an invalid law." Maintaining that corruption includes not just money- related corruption but also injustice and discrimination, she demanded that a search committee which will look for Lokpals should have members from minority community and salits. It should also have regional representation.
"If the Lokpal committee has five members, two should be from the Dalit community and suppose two elected candidates have equal votes then preference should be given to the one from dalit community," Roy said. On Anna Hazare`s decision to resume fasting if Jan Lokpal bill is not passed in the winter session of Parliament, she said, "We are not against Anna, we only demand reservation for all categories. In a country where people are discriminated against corruption will not go away."
Raj told protesters that he agrees with Hazare on the issue of corruption. "We support his demands within the framework of the constitution, but he has not included our demands for reservation in his draft," he said.
"Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal had said that they will include representatives from all communities in Lokpal but that was just a statement, it has to be included in their draft of the Jan Lokpal bill," he said.
"We urge the government that Lokpal bill be passed in current Parliament session only but after addressing these genuine demands," he said.
PTI