The state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has pitched for a stronger Lokpal while favouring the anti-corruption wing of national investigative agency- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) within the ambit of Lokpal.
Patnaik has joined many mainstream Opposition political parties in his demand for a stronger Lokpal.
"We are in favour of a strong Lokpal. The state government is also committed to amending the existing law to constitute an effective Lokayukta within the state in three months”, Patnaik said here.
As far as CBI is concerned, the anti-corruption wing of the agency should come under the Lokpal, he held.
He stated that the BJD's stand on the Lokpal bill was clarified in the Lok Sabha yesterday.
On allegation by opposition Congress that the BJD government was suppressing the state Lokayukta's reports on Vedanta University, Patnaik claimed that a number of pending special reports had so far been cleared in the State Cabinet.
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"We'll bring rest of the Lokpal's special reports to the Cabinet shortly and then place them before the assembly as per procedure," he said.
After an intense 11-hour debate, the Lokpal and Lokayukta bill were passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday with the ruling UPA government agreeing to 10 amendments.
However, a legislation designed to confer constitutional status on the anti-corruption watchdog fell through, as the government failed to get two-thirds support for it.
At least 15 Congress members and close to a dozen belonging to UPA allies were not present at the time of voting.