State passes Bill extending UP Lokayukta’s tenure

Speaking against the extension of Lokayukta’s tenure,leader of opposition Swami Prasad Maurya said this is a “black bill” and his party does not want to become a part of “black history” by remaining present in the House at the time of the passage of the Bill. He soon announced his decision to stage a walkout. Maurya urged the House that there should not be a new tradition by allowing the present Lokayukta to continue on his post. He said there is no dearth of retired high court judges in the state and the government can select one of them. He further said his party has extended its support to the state government on all such issues that are in the state’s interest.

Maurya also used an objectionable remark against the present Lokayukta. Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey immediately order for deleting the objectionable remark from the proceedings of the House.

Earlier,former power minister Ramvir Upadhyay,who was indicted by the Lokayukta in the past,had also leveled allegations against the Lokayukta. Speaker Pandey also got deleted Upadhyay’s allegations from the proceedings of the house.

BJP legislature party leader Hukum Singh told the House that any amendment to the Lokayukta Act should be approved by the President. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan said there was no need for the President’s consent to get the Bill amended.