Bihar to have a strong and effective Lokayukta: Nitish

Patna, Sep 5: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today (Sep 5) asserted that his government had "bold intentions" to have "a strong and effective" Lokayukta but it would also have to look into if the post of Lokayukta was being brought under the Centre's proposed Lokpal bill.

"We want to have a strong and effective Lokayukta. We have bold intentions for the purpose and bring the Chief Minister within the ambit of Lokayukta in the bill proposed to be brought during the winter session of the state assembly", Kumar told reporters.

"But according to the debate held in Parliament, views have been expressed for bringing Lokayukta within the purview of Lokpal, citizen charter, besides the public servants in the lower level", he said.

The Chief Minister said the Standing Parliamentary Committee was looking into these subjects.

"The state government has prepared itself about Lokayukta... we are making our own legislation... we have discussed the matter with various people and elicited their views on the issue of strong Lokayukta", Kumar said.

"But we will also have to see if there have been provisions for bringing the Lokayuktas of states in case the Parliament approves the Lokpal bill," he said.

"If the Parliamentary committee will seek our views on the issue of Lokayuktas, we will respond", Chief Minister addded.

PTI