Lucknow: BJP on Friday spurned Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's request for inputs on the proposed Lokpal Bill, arguing it would not be proper for a political party to submit its views to a drafting committee comprising civil society members as it would upset constitutional propriety.
"Expecting political parties to give their views to a drafting committee comprising civil society representatives for acceptance or otherwise would be upsetting constitutional propriety where parties, parliamentarians and Parliament have the last word.
"They are the decision-makers and not suggestion givers," BJP President Nitin Gadkari said.
Mukherjee had written a letter on May 31 to the BJP, other political parties and chief ministers seeking their opinion on the proposed bill.
There are reportedly several differences between the civil society representatives headed by social activist and Gandhian Anna Hazare, and the government panel headed by Mukherjee.
Gadkari has suggested in his reply that BJP can be consulted before the bill is introduced in Parliament.
"In case there is a divergence of opinion between members of the drafting committee, the final proposals carrying both view points can be sent to us for our opinion at that stage. It would not be proper for parties and parliamentarians to start submitting their opinions to others for acceptance or
rejection," he said.
BJP said the government was reaching out to the opposition only now and given less than a week to the parties to send their suggestions. It also conveyed its resentment at being ignored when the drafting process began despite it being the
principal opposition.
Gadkari said, "At no stage has the government thought it necessary to consult either the BJP or any other political party in regard to several issues involved in the context of setting up of an independent Lokpal."
The main opposition party has taken dig at the government for the apparent differences between the civil society and government members on the provisions of the proposed legislation and on who all should be brought under its ambit.
The BJP, however, clarified that it was all for an effective Lokpal Bill to check corruption.
"The Bill for setting up of the institution of Lokpal to curb corruption in high places is an important landmark proposal. The BJP is committed to the creation of an independent Lokpal," the party said.
Though Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has said the Prime Minister should come within the purview of the Lokpal and stated that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had expressed willingness to be monitored by an ombudsman, BJP sources said the party is wary of such a proposal.
Briefing reporters later, BJP chief spokesman Ravi Shanker Prasad said while demanding an independent mechanism to deal with the appointment of a Lokpal, the party advocated setting up a national commission to deal with appointment of the Supreme Court and High Court judges.
Giving highlights of Gadkari's inaugural address to the party's national executive meet, Prasad said the party chief suggested a five-point plan to eradicate corruption.
"The national president has said that an independent mechanism should be set up to deal with the appointment of Lokpal to handle corruption cases," he said.
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