'Parliamentary panel on Lokpal Bill has no moral stature'

Questioning the impartiality of the parliamentary committee examining the Lokpal Bill, a leading citizens' forum has sought the reconstitution of the panel in response to unprecedented anti-corruption movement in the country.

Gopal Krishna, member of the Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties, in a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari said: "There is a clear conflict of interest among some members of this committee and the sensitive bill. These members include Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Lalu Prasad, Amar Singh, Manish Tewari and Parimal Nathwani."

Seeking to know whether the committee will be able to rise above party positions, he said that as Congress spokespersons Singhvi and Tewari had already represented a particular viewpoint on the Lokpal Bill.

"If he (Singhvi) were to be a judge and he had already represented a client in the past, judicial propriety (perhaps legislative propriety as well) would have required him to recuse himself from hearing the case of his client," he wrote.

Targetting other members of the parliamentary panel, Gopal Krishna alleged: "Lalu Prasad's disproportionate assets case is pending in the court. Amar Singh's role in the cash for vote scams is being probed by Delhi Police. Parimal Nathwani's gets mention in the Niira Radia tapes."

"The Lokpal and Lokayukta bill was introduced in the Parliament in 1968, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998 and in 2001, but it was not passed. I apprehend the role of conflict of interest ridden members for such a situation. It merits a high-level legislative probe by you and the Lok Sabha Speaker to ascertain the manner in which such unprecedented delay has been engineered."

"Only a reconstituted committee will have the moral stature to examine government's Lokpal Bill, the Jan Lokpal Bill and suggestions for an Aam Jan Lokpal," he contended.