Reds chide govt for failing to keep poll promise
Left parties have pulled up the ten-month-old United Front government
headed by H D Deve Gowda for its alleged failure to honour commitments
made in the Front's Common Minimum Programme.
In a joint letter to the prime minister on Monday, March 17, the
Front's left constituents said that commitments like the passage
of the Lok Pal Bill, reservation for women, and federal legislation
for agricultural workers had not been honoured.
Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Harkishan Singh
Surjeet, Communist Party of India General Secretary A B A Bardhan,
Forward Bloc General Secretary Chitta Basu and RSP secretariat
member Sushil Bhattacharyajee were signatories to the two-page
letter.
The letter also took exception to validate the arbitrary use of
powers by former petroleum minister Satish Sharma on the allotment
of petrol pumps and gas agencies. ''This is a matter already before
the courts and hence, it will not be proper to initiate any action
which will legitimise the arbitrary misuse of official powers.''
The CMP, the letter pointed out, has already said that ''discretionary
quotas hitherto enjoyed by the minister will be abolished".
The letter said the institution of the Lok Pal was a commitment
made in the CMP of the United Front with a view to curbing corruption
in high places. However, the Lok Pal Bill, which has been introduced
in Parliament, and which is now being examined by a standing committee
for home is ''a highly defective and misguided piece of legislation".
The provisions of this bill, instead of curbing corruption and
brining to book those guilty, will help in protecting any person
holding public office who has indulged in corrupt practices.
"Since it is not just one or two provisions of the bill which
are objectionable, we would suggest that the whole bill be redrafted
after a proper discussion on the scope and intent of the legislation,"
the letter recommended.
According to the letter, it is reported that the government is
proposing to introduce a Constitutional amendment bill on the
question of the appointment of judges in order to restore the
position prior to 1993 where the executive would make the appointment
in consultation with the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
The issue is being posed as to who is the appointing authority
- the executive or the judiciary? "In the light of the vital
importance of the judiciary and the necessity to safeguard its
independence and credibility, we would like to record our disagreement
with the proposed amendment. What is required is an independent
judicial commission which will be the appointing authority for
judges with well laid-out norms. Such a commission should consist
of reputed jurists and other representatives to give it an independent
character. Such a proposal has already been made by the representatives
of the bar and other legal associations," it said.
The Front's leaders said the Left parties are extremely concerned
about the bill introduced in the Parliament for amendment of the
Electricity Act to enable private sector entry into transmission
of power within the state and the federal government will give
licences for inter-state transmission. It is totally irrational
to encourage multiplicity of agencies for transmission of power
and separate generation from transmission. This will introduce
anarchy and dysfunction of the power grid system.
The letter said the crisis in the power sector will further aggravate
with damaging consequences for balanced distribution of power
and at the cost of increased power tariffs for the consumers.
The left parties strongly urge the government not to proceed with
this legislation and allow a proper discussion on the implications
of this move for the power sector and the economy.
The left parties recorded their dismay at the continuing delay
in the passing of the bill for reservation for women. This is
a commitment made by all major national political parties during
the last elections. It is the duty of the United Front government
to move for the adoption of the bill in the budget session of
Parliament itself, it said.
Another commitment made in the camp is with regard to the federal
legislation for agricultural workers. The left parties attach
great importance to this law as it will benefit the worst affected
sections of the rural poor. The government should bring this bill
in Parliament without further delay, the letter said.
UNI
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