Oppn in RS cautions govt on anti-graft bill

Opposition in Rajya Sabha today advocated caution on an anti-graft bill with a Samajwadi Party member saying the new law instead of checking the menace will increase corruption and make elected representatives more vulnerable.
Participating in the discussion for consideration and passing of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment)Bill, 2013, Naresh Agrawal (SP) suggested that the government was bringing such anti-corruption bills in a "haste" alleging it was seeking to deflect attention from its "failure" in bringing back black money and called for a "reconsideration" of the measure.
Holding that mere enactment of laws cannot check corruption, he cited instances of the situation after enactment of tough laws on violence against women after the Nirbhaya gang rape case and asked whether cases of women atrocities have stopped after that.

The anti-corruption amendment bill is aimed at enhancing penalty for graft to a maximum of seven years from five years now, among other new provisions to check the menace.
Agarwal rued that while MPs can lose their membership in corruption cases after this bill, prior permission will be required for action against any officer of and above the Joint Secretary level.
"Once this law comes into force, cops can put behind bars anybody they want. It is not good giving so much powers to the police. The membership of MPs can go but you are protecting officers. You will have to take prior permission to start prosecution against them. You want to protect officers at the level of Joint Secretary," Agrawal said.

Citing instances or "legalised commission" for defence deals in some foreign countries, he highlighted complexities of implementing the new anti-graft law in India.

While asserting that corruption has to be fought tooth and nail, the SP member said that there is a need to work with a "practical" approach.
Flagging similar concerns, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said while everyone was committed to fight corruption, "such a law should not be made, which make all of us helpless. ... There is a need to think about it. We are committed to check corruption but it should not be a case that the one who is committed to it, does not survive".

K C Tyagi (JD-U) said he considered the measure "a good bill brought in haste".