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Journalism of Courage
Replying to the Centres questionnaire seeking views on contentious issues relating to the proposed Lokpal Bill,Congress chief ministers have sent responses along predictable lines,asserting that their views would be the same as that articulated by the party at the national level.
Sources asserted on Sunday that a short response affirming concurrence with the position of the Congress party at the national level has been sent by party chief ministers to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,who heads the 10- member drafting committee on the proposed Bill. Following differences with civil society representatives on six contentious issues,including whether the Prime Minister and the higher judiciary be brought under the ambit of the anti-corruption legislation,Mukherjee had written to all chief ministers as well as political parties seeking their views. He had asked them to give their responses by June 6.
Chief ministers of states in which Congress is in alliance with other parties,such as Maharashtra and Kerala,too have given similar responses,though they did seek the consent of alliance partners before sending their responses. For instance,sources said Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan spoke to NCP supremo and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on the matter,before writing to Mukherjee that Maharashtras position would be the same as that articulated by the Congress and NCP at the Centre.
The BJP and its allies in the NDA,however,have rebuffed Mukherjees request,saying that they will give their views only in Parliament.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar,too,has rejected the government request,saying views on such vital issues engaging the attention of the entire nation,are being sought in such a casual and hurried manner. It will be interesting though to see what responses J Jayalalithaa,Mayawati and Naveen Patnaik send to the questionnaire.
