Former chief minister and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) president Keshubhai Patel was the lone warrior opposing the Gujarat Lokayukta Commission Bill 2013,cleared by the government on Tuesday with majority,after Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal returned it raising eight objections for reconsideration. At 82,Patel,the oldest member of the House,in his 20 minute-long speech,called the Bill non transparent and weaker than the existing Gujarat Lokayukta Act 1986. The new Bill proposes to repeal the existing Act. Given Patels knee-related aliment,Speaker Vaju Vala allowed him to be seated during his speech. The arguments by this first CM of the BJP,who was unceremoniously ousted in favour of Narendra Modi in 2001,were contemporary and sharp. When an impression is being sent out that the whole world is looking up to Gujarat,and that Gujarat is very advanced,this is the time that we should live up to it.Inner conscience should be brought in here, he said in the context of making the CM the chairman of selection committee for Lokayukta,undermining the role of Chief Justice of High Court and Governor in the selection process. Speaking alone from the vacant opposition benches,Patel said,There is no one in the House present who will speak his mind. While the only other MLA from GPP,Nalin Kotadia,did not speak on the issue,two NCP MLAs Jayant Patel and Kandhal Jadeja were absent,along with 57 Congress MLAs,as they had been suspended from the House for two days. Modi,who was present during the Question Hour,left the House by the time the Bill came up for a debate. Patel defended most of the objections raised by Beniwal. He talked at length on the provision that can stop investigation in a matter against which the state government brings out a notification directing probe by a commission. Where is the transparency here? he asked. Late for an eye check-up,Patel excused himself to leave the House before Finance Minister Nitin Patel put forward arguments in favour of the Bill. Patel apologised to the House for leaving early.
