Govt trying to fool Anna&teamConstitutional status for Lokpal: Khurshid-A ploy to delay says Anna- The Pioneer—12.10.11

 Toeing Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's line on the Lokpal Bill, the Government on Tuesday said that the proposed anti-corruption body would enjoy Constitutional status.

“We are working on a very strong Lokpal Bill. A Lokpal Bill that will come with a Constitutional amendment.
That amendment will give the Lokpal the status of a Constitutional authority,“ Law Minister Salman Khurshid told PTI in an interview. .

The statement drew sharp reactions from Team Anna, which said it was a ploy to delay the proposed Bill.

“It is a perfect recipe for delaying. Now the Congress will say such Constitutional amendment will require political consensus for passage in Parliament. Which is why Anna demanded a commitment from the Government that the Bill will be passed in the Winter Session,“ Hazare's associate Kiran Bedi told The Pioneer.

However, Khurshid said the move to make Lokpal a Constitutional body was not intended to delay the passage of the legislation as the Government stood by its commitment to pass the Bill in the Winter Session of Parliament starting next month.

The Lokpal will be “more powerful than the Election Commission“ and “will have far greater powers“. Its profile and stature will be “much higher“, Khurshid said.

During his intervention on a debate on the subject in Lok Sabha last month, Rahul had proposed that the Lokpal should be a Constitutional authority.

Acknowledging that the move was in line with Gandhi's suggestion, Khurshid said, “Rahul is very committed to that and he believes that it is a very important step we must take because Lokpal is no ordinary institution.“

“The entire material of the debate was sent to the Standing Committee. Rahul Gandhi's speech was also taken note of and sent there. From my point of view, it was a value addition.

Continued on Page 4 We want that value addition be seen as value addition and not simply as a stratagem to delay or bypass main intentions,“ the Law Minister said.

“I think the party would take the line given to us by Rahul Gandhi. It also appeals to our senses,“ he said.

The Law Minister said the proposal had not yet been considered by the Cabinet but the sense in the Government and the party was for a Lokpal that will have Constitutional status.
There will be a separate bill to provide this, Khurshid said.

The Law Minister said the proposal was to have 11-member body, at least 50 per cent of whom will have judicial background. Non-judicial members will be from civil society, including those who have worked on corruption and good governance and held high positions in investigative agencies.

Asked if the Opposition parties had been sounded, he said various members of the Cabinet are keeping in touch with some specific leaders of Opposition.

Khurshid said, “If you want to put your faith in a body which is so powerful (Lokpal), that body must be of stature that is compatible with the functions they are to perform.“