Urging the government not to enact a law against the interest of states, Communist Party of India - Marxist lawmaker Sitaram Yechury on Thursday accused the corporates of funding elections, and said that graft cannot be tackled without including India Inc under the review of Lokpal.
Participating in a debate on Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Yechury said, "Do not enact law against interest of states. We cannot tackle graft without including India Inc under review of Lokpal. The corporates fund elections."
Stating that the matter surrounding the anti-graft bill had become very serious, Yechury, making his party's stand clear, said, "We had agreed on the Citizen's Charter, lower bureaucracy and Lokayuktas for state in the discussion in August. We gave this assurance to the country."
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Trinamool, CPI-M, DMK add to Congress's Lokpal woes
The CPI-M veteran further said the Central Bureau of Investigation should be freed from government control.
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, already passed by Lok Sabha, was moved for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy.
The government's version of the Lokpal Bill, which was passed with a voice vote in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, has reportedly divided the key constituents of the ruling United progressive Alliance.
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Trinamool, CPI-M, DMK add to Congress's Lokpal woes
The Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, is unhappy with certain provisions and the language of the Lokpal Bill that aims to curb corruption in public life.
Participating in the debate on the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, TMC leader Sukhendu S Roy said, "Party leader (Mamata Banerjee) has directed us to oppose the bill to the extent" it seeks to encroach on the autonomy of the states.
He said the party has moved amendments to delete the clauses (63 to 97) of the Bill, which deal with setting up of the Lokayukutas in the states. "I would request the government to delete Chapter three (related to Lokayukutas) in its entirety," Roy said.
TC has six members in the Upper House, where the UPA does not have a majority.
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Trinamool, CPI-M, DMK add to Congress's Lokpal woes
Roy said the bill in its original form did not have the provision relating to the Lokayukutas.
"Suddenly and surprisingly it became Lokpal/Lokayukutas," he said, adding that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, conveying the 'sense of the House' on August 27, had asked whether states would want a separate law for the ombudsman.
Roy said the TC was with the government, but its opposition was to the Lokpal Bill seeking to encroach states' autonomy.
He said TC is opposing the bill on merit and the party did not join the "jamboree outside" where 'Vaampanthi (Left) and Rampanthi (BJP-RSS)' joined hands.
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Trinamool, CPI-M, DMK add to Congress's Lokpal woes
He said even before the Parliamentary Standing Committee, which looked into the bill, several eminent jurists had suggested preserving states' autonomy.
DMK, another important ally of the government, too cautioned the UPA against attempting a legislation which undermines states.
"I support the bill on the behalf of DMK. However, we need an explanation from the government. We are concerned to some extent. The Centre should not encroach upon or trespass into the territory of the states," DMK leader T Siva said.
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