New Delhi, Akshay Kumar, B.Tech 3rd Sem : Dear readers i am trying to put some facts about the areas of dispute between Team Anna and Government. Please read them and give your opinion ( comments) . I am not sure what will be happen in the night as i was at Ramlila ground late night just reach home and sending this important question, which is all Indian discussing.
To include the Prime Minister under the Lokpal or not:
This is perhaps the most emotive issue amongst Anna’s supporters. Primarily because it’s simple, it’s symbolic and easy to comprehend. The Opposition BJP and the Left want the PM included too with some exclusion clauses to ensure national security is not compromised.The government discussed this at the all-party meeting held today: Team Anna wants this included. The BJP and the Left have favoured including the PM within the purview of the Lokpal, but with safeguards. The Congress too is ok with this, with safeguards.
Lower bureaucracy to be investigated by the Lokpal:
The government wants only major corruption to fall under the Lokpal – so it says only Class 1 government servants should be included, not junior officers. The argument is that if every one of the 30 lakh central government servants is included, the Lokpal will need 20,000 investigators. Team Anna has argued that the common man faces day-to-day corruption from the lower-level government officials, so these must be included. The Left parties say only Class 1 and above should be included.
This remains one of the major sticking points. The government says let us come up with another arrangement.
To include the Judiciary:
If there is one thing that the government, the BJP and the Left parties agree on, it is that the judiciary should not be under the Lokpal. The argument is that the Lokpal will send corruption cases to courts for trial and sentencing. If judges are under the scrutiny of the Lokpal, how will they be independent enough to go against it in these cases? Moreover, this goes against a key tenet of the Constitution: The independence of the judiciary. Anna’s team argues that there is rampant corruption in the judiciary and it must be policed by the Lokpal.
All major political parties – the Congress, BJP and the Left oppose this so Team Anna may have to compromise here. It has indicated that a good judicial accountability Bill, separate from the Lokpal but brought around the same time, could be acceptable.
Should MPs’ actions inside Parliament be included under the Lokpal:
According to the Constitution any corrupt behaviour by MPs inside the House is currently exempt from scrutiny. Even the Supreme Court has held that MPs’ actions inside Parliament cannot be questioned. Anna and his team say the Constitution should be amended to include MPs’ corruption inside the House.
The Congress, BJP, Left and other political parties are against this. Team Anna wants MPs’ actions in Parlaiment to be under the Lokpal. A compromise could be some form of accountability, but a change in the Constitution seems unlikely.
Overseeing corruption in the Lokpal:
Who will ensure that up to 20,000 officers in the Lokpal are not corrupt? Anna’s draft has some oversight provisions – most parties feel the provision in the Anna draft is very weak. In a compromise, Team Anna may climb down on this and agree to a separate body to oversee the functioning of the Lokpal and for grievance redressal.
Method of appointing of the Lokpal:
The Anna draft has suggested complicated methods of appointing the Lokpal, which have been widely criticised as impractical. In a compromise, Team Anna is expected to agree to simplify this. So long as the appointment is not made by the Executive.
Common Bill for All:
Team Anna wants one common Lokpal Bill for both the Centre and the states. The government wants states to come up with their own Bills.
This remains a sticking point.
Including CBI and CVC:
Both sides agree that Parliament should decide whether or not India’s foremost investigation agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Central Vigilance Commission should be under the purview of the Lokpal.
Dear Akshay thanks for providing informative data, but this all episode look like a managed by Congress party as their main moto is to make Rahul Gandhi as a PM of India.
The situation showing that he congress will announce Rahul Gandhi as a PM . After watching TV the in 25th night we come to give this statement.
Dear Indians we have to save our nation from bad elements , but who will make the parameter to check who is bad and who is good.
Akshay Kumar
Bhopal