Congress-ruled states will enact Lokayukta legislations on the lines of the Centre’s Lokpal by February-end, a resolve aimed at positioning the party strongly in the fight against corruption ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The 12 states will put CMs and ministers under the ambit of the anti-graft ombudsman, and will empower investigating agencies with prosecution wings under them to be free of the control of the law ministry.
At a meeting with chief ministers called by Congress heir-imminent Rahul Gandhi to discuss the issue of corruption on Friday, all state heads agreed to bring the Lokayukta legislation mirroring Lokpal bill by February 28. A blueprint to be followed was given to the chief ministers.
While the Lokpal bill passed by the Parliament this month gives one year to states to bring their Lokayukta legislation, it leaves the states free to decide on the nature of the ombudsman they want to have. Announcing the decision, Rahul said, “We want to take the stipulations in the Lokpal bill to the states.”
The move on Lokayukta — seeking to soften the negative perception about UPA-2 and woo voters in states where elections are going to be fought – appears a strategy to challenge the BJP to follow suit. Sources said while Lokayukta is present in almost every state, the Congress initiative is about giving them teeth, a la Lokpal.
It is hoped the Congress’s initiative will bring under focus the Lokayukta in Gujarat, amended by Narendra Modi government to make it subservient to the state government. The issue came up at the meeting with Rahul where, sources said, AICC general secretary Ajay Maken pointed out how the Gujarat ombudsman was rendered feeble.
Rahul lost no time in slamming the BJP for its silence on his demand to pass the six anti-graft bills besides Lokpal that are pending in Parliament and which he calls part of a “framework against corruption”.
The pending bills are about protection of whistle blowers, grievance redressal and delivery of services, public procurement, foreign bribery and judicial accountability.
The 12 states will put CMs and ministers under the ambit of the anti-graft ombudsman, and will empower investigating agencies with prosecution wings under them to be free of the control of the law ministry.
At a meeting with chief ministers called by Congress heir-imminent Rahul Gandhi to discuss the issue of corruption on Friday, all state heads agreed to bring the Lokayukta legislation mirroring Lokpal bill by February 28. A blueprint to be followed was given to the chief ministers.
While the Lokpal bill passed by the Parliament this month gives one year to states to bring their Lokayukta legislation, it leaves the states free to decide on the nature of the ombudsman they want to have. Announcing the decision, Rahul said, “We want to take the stipulations in the Lokpal bill to the states.”
The move on Lokayukta — seeking to soften the negative perception about UPA-2 and woo voters in states where elections are going to be fought – appears a strategy to challenge the BJP to follow suit. Sources said while Lokayukta is present in almost every state, the Congress initiative is about giving them teeth, a la Lokpal.
It is hoped the Congress’s initiative will bring under focus the Lokayukta in Gujarat, amended by Narendra Modi government to make it subservient to the state government. The issue came up at the meeting with Rahul where, sources said, AICC general secretary Ajay Maken pointed out how the Gujarat ombudsman was rendered feeble.
Rahul lost no time in slamming the BJP for its silence on his demand to pass the six anti-graft bills besides Lokpal that are pending in Parliament and which he calls part of a “framework against corruption”.
The pending bills are about protection of whistle blowers, grievance redressal and delivery of services, public procurement, foreign bribery and judicial accountability.
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