CM will be under Lokayukta in Assam: Gogoi

Guwahati: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said that the chief minister would be brought under the ambit of the Lokayukta Bill in Assam and appealed to Gandhian Anna Hazare to end his fast.

"We will amend the Lokayukta Bill and also include the chief minister there", Gogoi said talking to reporters.

"We are waiting for the Lokpal Bill to be passed in Parliament. We will take the guidelines from the Lokpal Bill, its main essence and provisions in our amendment", Gogoi said.

"We will also have provisions for the High Court to take up suo moto cases on corruption. We will also go for a peoples charter with guarantee of service, means to check bribe and create a grievance cell", he added.

To a query why government employees could not complain under the Lokayukta Bill, Gogoi said, "they can go to the vigilance cell. The public are the main victims".

On Anna Hazare's fast, he said, "we are concerned about the precious life of Anna Hazare. We want his fast to come to an end. We appeal to him from Assam to end his fast."

"There is no difference between Hazare, the government, political parties and civil society on his fight against corruption. It is a matter of serious concern for all that we see corruption everywhere", he pointed out.

Asserting there was difference in approach to the Lokpal Bill, Gogoi said, "it appears to me, Team Anna insists on the Bill to be passed in Parliament, while the government has made it clear that only through discussions the bill can be worked out".

"It is a complicated matter and we have to solve it amicably through give and take, discussions and conciliation. In a democracy nobody can afford to not solve issues amicably", Gogoi said.

Only through Parliament can the problem be solved as it was the only competent authority to make law, he added.

"Even if their (team Anna) Bill is passed it will not root out corruption. The fight has to go on. Anna Hazare has created awareness about corruption", the chief minister said.

"We want to change the moral character of the people with them vowing not to give and take bribes. The system has to be changed. If we computerise and introduce e-government, corruption can be ruled out to a great extent", Gogoi added.