Just a day before the Lokpal Bill is to be introduced in the Lok Sabha,Opposition parties are putting pressure on the government demanding amendments in the present form of the Bill. BJP The BJP would move amendments to the Lokpal Bill in Parliament to make it more strong and independent,Party general secretary and in-charge for Madhya Pradesh Ananth Kumar said on Monday. Inaugurating a two-day meeting of the executive committee of the state BJP here,Kumar said his party was not in favour of the present Lokpal Bill and added that it would go the same way as the FDI Bill. The BJP general secretary said his party was in favour of a strong and independent Lokpal because of which it would move amendments to the present Lokpal Bill. He said it was not right to introduce the element of reservation in Lokpal on the basis of religion or minorities.Left> Building up pressure a day before the Lokpal Bill comes up for debate before Lok Sabha,the CPI-M on Monday said it will move concrete amendments that includes creation of a separate investigation wing to further strengthen the measure which is ineffective in its present form. We are moving some concrete amendments which we think will further strengthen the Lokpal because the Bill,as it conceives of the Lokpal right now,.we are not very happy in the sense that it is not an effective Lokpal, CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters here. The Left parties insist that they want to amend the present Bill on various counts,especially to provide for a separate investigating wing to probe corruption or inclusion of CBI's anti-corruption wing under the ombudsman's ambit. The CPI(M) also wants inclusion of corporate crime in the jurisdiction of Lokpal,particularly those cases which cause a loss to the public exchequer and has the involvement of public servants. The major Left party has already objected to the inclusion of the mandatory provision of creation of Lokayuktas in states on the Lokpal model,saying it would damage the federal structure and intervene in the powers of states. It wants separate provisions or a model Bill for the purpose which could be adopted by the states. The CPI(M) is also expected to move amendments on the selection and composition of the Lokpal and its members with a view to broadbase the selection process. It would also seek widening of the definition of corruption to include wilful grant of undue benefits to any person or party (company) by a public servant or obtaining of undue benefits,Left sources said referring to 2G and other scams. Currently,the sources said power was being misused to benefit an entity like a private company which is not a person as required under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Often,there would be no traceable kickbacks or embezzlement but a huge loss to public exchequer and breach of public trust,they said,adding that such instances could also be seen in the privatisation of state-run firms through wilful misuse of power. The sources said the Left parties would submit amendments seeking the inclusion of corporate fraud and provision for immediate cancellation of licences of corporates involved in corruption. Maintaining that 'plutocracy' or rule of wealth has come to dominate the political system,CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat recently said the neo-liberal regime has led to an exponential rise in corruption. Much of this corruption stems from the big business-ruling politician-bureaucratic nexus which has been established. He said the rule by the governments of the UPA and NDA have shown how policy making has been suborned to serve the interests of big business and how privatization and loot of natural resources are facilitated by this nexus in operation. The Left would also press for changes in the existing legislation to ensure more clarity in the functioning of the Lokpal,the sources added.CPIMaking a strong pitch for granting autonomy to CBI,the CPI on Monday said social activist Anna Hazare should be flexible in his approach for achieving a strong Lokpal and let the Parliament debate and decide on the issue. Our party is in favour of a strong Lokpal. We put pressure on the government for it. We feel there are some weaknesses in the Bill brought in by the government. But,we are against placing CBI under Lokpal as is being demanded by Anna Hazare, CPI Deputy General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy said on the sidelines of a party programe to celebrate party's 86th anniversary. Lokpal with absolute powers over legislature and executive may emerge as a super power which may hurt someone,he said. There is no guarantee that the Lokpal would not do what the governments of the day are doing. CBI should have autonomy. CBI is being used by the ruling party as a tool to harass political rivals. So,we favour autonomy and accountability of CBI, Reddy said. On the anti-graft draft,the deputy general secretary said,some issues sought by Anna Hazare have been taken of. On others,I feel he should be flexible. Parliament is supreme. He should try to get a strong Lokpal Bill in Parliament but not employ other pressures. Replying to a query,he said the CPI was fighting against corrupt politics of the UPA-II.
