Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan today said the fresh amendments to Delhi Janlokpal Bill is nothing, but a "minor tinkering" and it's primarily a "Sarkari Lokpal" with the political establishment still having a role in appointments and removal of the obmdusman.
He said the Swaraj Abhiyan favoured the 2014 Delhi Janlokpal Bill, which was more "foolproof" in nature, gave independence in appointment and removal of the Lokpal and even had details about the financing of his office. The new Bill does not speak of this, he observed.
"In the amended provisions, an eminent citizen is to be nominated as 5th member by the Chief Justice of the High Court, CM, Leader of Opposition and Speaker. Thus 3 members out of 4 of selection committee will be from political class.
"Selection process is ambiguous and there is no provision for search committee. Hence, the procedure is not transparent. Even if the removal is to be recommended by the High Court, the decision will ultimately lie in hands of the political establishment. This itself will jeopardise the independence," he said.
Bhushan also termed as "mischievous" the clause on investigating Union government officials, saying it was added to the Bill so that the Centre will not pass the law.
"This will give him a chance to play the victim card that the Centre is not passing the Bill," he said.
"The fresh amendments to Delhi Janlokpal Bill is nothing, but a minor tinkering and it's primarily a Sarkari Lokpal with the political establishment still having a role in appointments and removal of the obmdusman," he said.
Bhushan said he will talk to all those who participated in the Janlokpal movement and chalk out the next course of action.
Another Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said had the AAP government tabled the 2014 Delhi Janlokpal Bill in the Assembly, it would not have only congratulated the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation but would have also joined them in protest if the Centre blocked the legislation.
Yadav asked the Kejriwal government what the "compulsions" were for not tabling the 2014 Janlokpal Bill.
