Congress wants to delay Lokpal bill: Modi

Patna, Aug 30: Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today (Aug 30) accused the Congress of hatching a conspiracy to delay the proposed Lokpal Bill for long on the pretext of formulating a mechanism to grant a constitutional status to the anti-corruption body.

The intention of the Congress on the Lokpal issue is not sincere as it wants to delay the legislative process to set up a Lokpal by proposing to find a mechanism in which it could be given constitutional status as suggested by the AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, he told reporters here.

The Congress was indulging in delaying tactics on the lokpal issue as a bill to grant constitutional status to the anti-corruption body has to be passed by two-third majority in both houses of Parliament and ratified by half of the states, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Instead of getting into ''time consuming'' tactics, the Congress should act fast in deference to public sentiment as reflected by the nationwide agitation led by Anna Hazare and set up a strong lokpal at the earliest, he said.

The people of the country wanted to tolerate corruption no more, Modi said.

Modi also urged the Centre to consider electoral reforms, including right to recall of legislators and right to reject candidates during polls as suggested by Hazare and his team and said the feasibility of implementation of the twin suggestions should be worked out by the government.

Similar demands which would help cleanse the political system of the country had also been made during the movement of Jaya Prakash Naranayan, the senior BJP leader said.

He said the NDA government has incorporated the right to recall and right to reject in the panchayati raj electoral system and even countries like Switzerland and USA have incorporated the provisions in their electoral systems.

On privilege notices moved by some MPs against Kiran Bedi and Om Puri for their remarks against politicians, Modi urged Parliament to show large heart and ignore the comments made in excitement during the Anna Hazare-led agitation.

It would send a wrong message if Parliament punished the civil society members for their adverse comments against MPs and lower the image of the house in the eyes of the people, Modi said.

PTI