New Delhi: India on Wednesday received its New Year gift as President Pranab Mukherjee signed the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 which has now become a law. The Bill was passed by Parliament in the winter session and the country will finally get a strong anti-corruption watchdog.
The Bill was passed by a voice vote in the Lok Sabha a day after the Rajya Sabha had passed it with several amendments.
The Bill had already been passed by the Lok Sabha in December 2011 but it came to the House again as it underwent amendments before being approved by the Rajya Sabha.
While supporting the measure, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had said, "Lokpal Bill alone is not enough to fight corruption. What we need is a comprehensive anti-corruption code. The UPA government has prepared an anti-corruption framework."
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj had supported the Bill but attacked the Congress for clamouring to take credit for it, saying "The people of this country and the old man (Anna Hazare) who has undertaken fast several times deserve the credit."
The Bill aims at tackling the menace of corruption and brings under its purview the Prime Minister with certain safeguards and other public servants.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was vociferous in his opposition and said a strong Lokpal will bring government work to a halt as bureaucrates and ministers would be afraid of carrying out their duties. "It will create a fear psychosis among the bureaucracy and no official will take a decision or sign a document," Yadav said, adding that as per the law, a low level police officer will be empowered to question and investigate senior politicians and public officials.
After the Bill's passage, social activist Anna Hazare broke his eight-day long fast in his native village Ralegan Siddhi and welcomed the move saying it will significantly cut down corruption in the system.
Comments
0 comment