New Delhi: Even as the Congress chose to stay away, the Left, the BJP and other parties spoke out their stand on the Lokpal Bill, sharing stage with anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar on Sunday.
BJP's Arun Jaitley, CPI's D Raja and CPM's Brinda Karat arrived at the Jantar Mantar a short while ago. Among others Yerran Naidu of TDP, Ram Gopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party and Leftist AB Bardhan were also expected to be there.
While the political parties flayed the government and the Parliamentary Standing Committee for preparing a weak Lokpal draft, some of them also appealed to Anna and his team to be flexible in their approach towards the bill.
Team Anna shouldn't expect all points in Jan Lokpal Bill to be accepted: Bardhan
CPI leader AB Bardhan advised Team Anna to be flexible and listen to other voices as well and not demand that Parliament pass their Jan Lokpal Bill in totality.
"The issue is in Parliament let there be debate in Parliament," he said.
"We support citizen's charter. Team Anna should not expect that all the points mentioned in Jan Lokpal bill will be accepted. I agree that there is corruption in judiciary but I feel it should not be brought under one Lokpal. There should be a National Judiciary commission and a strong Judicial accountability bill should look into corruption in judiciary."
Bardhan welcomed Team Anna's open debate on Lokpal.
"I am happy that political parties have been invited to this forum. It's a good attempt. I appreciate it. I give credit to Anna ji to bring this issue on the forefront."
He said that the Prime Minister should be in the ambit of Lokpal.
"C category and other employees should also be included under Lokpal. I believe CBI has been used by government for it's own interest like a screw," he said.
CPI leader D Raja also appealed to Team Anna to let Parliament debate the bill. ""Law making is a process, the Standing Committee has given its report, now the government has to formulate its policy, then there will be a debate in Parliament, during which every political party will give their view. Let Parliament debate it," he said.
Standing Committee's Lokpal draft is a betrayal: Jaitley
Sharing stage with Anna Hazare and Left leaders, BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Sunday said that the Lokpal Bill draft prepared by the Parliamentary Standing Committee is a betrayal to the people of the country as it ignores the sense of the House resolution passed in August this year.
Supporting Team Anna's open debate over Lokpal, Jaitley said, "There is no difference between a debate in Parliament or on the street. Country needs an independent and strong Lokpal."
Making clear his party's take on Lokpal, he said, "Dissent notes were given by BJP MPs on the Standing Committee on Lokpal. BJP wanted all government employees under Lokpal. We oppose Prime Minister's not being included under Lokpal. If Prime Minister is charged with corruption then he should step down. The Prime Minister is under various laws & regulations, but its unacceptable to say that PM can't come under Lokpal.
On the inclusion of CBI under Lokpal, Jaitley said, "CBI should be independent. CBI top officials' appointment should be independent of Government. CBI's administrative control should be under Lokpal."
The BJP leader also said that Group A & B government employee are under Lokpal, but not C & D. We object to 4.5 lakh NGO's being brought under Lokpal, he said.
All politicians are not corrupt: Brinda Karat
Brinda Karat from CPI(M) said that the Prime Minister should be included under the ambit of Lopkal.
"Anna's andolan shows the strength of the people. Though we do not agree that all politicians are corrupt, I hope Team Anna will do think of this," she said.
"This Lokpal Bill that the Standing Committee has brought is as good as not having one. It's a very weak bill. It will not be able to control corruption. There is corruption so rampant in defence deals, and the country knows. We had given many dissent notes. The agitation is against the loot of the corporate bill," Karat said.
The CPI (M) leader also said that the Group C government employees should come under Lokpal.
Criticising government's version of Lokpal, she said, "This bill looks like Lokpal is a post office. This is not acceptable. The investigating agency should be included in the Lokpal."
On the issue of inclusion of judiciary under Lokpal, she said, "Judiciary is not corruption free. Judiciary should not be included in Lokpal and the Judicial Accountability Bill should be made strong."
She added that there should be a separate strong Citizen Accountability Bill that is easily accessible.
On citizens grievance, she said, "Only corruption is not grievance. The government Grievance Redress Bill is highly centralized. We need a strong bill, a separate Grievance Redress Bill.
Each of your demands cannot be met: SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav to Anna
Samajwadi Party General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav alleged that Standing Committee acted under pressure.
"Samajwadi Party is with Team Anna on most of their demands. There should be reservation in search committees. We will pressurise government to accept at least the most important parts of the recommendations," Yadav said.
"But it's not necessary that whatever the Jan Lokpal panel has suggested will be accepted as it is. It may take time," he said.
The SP leader also cautioned Team Anna by saying, "Want to tell Anna that please don't expect that each of your demands will be agreed to." Hearing this, the crowd responded by booing the SP leader.
Yerran Naidu of TDP said that they were supporting Anna Hazare's movement from day one.
"Why are Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi not speaking against corruption? Why is the Congress party scared of bringing the CBI under Lokpal. Congress uses CBI against the opposition," he said.
Parliament should have a special session on Lokpal if required: Sharad Yadav
JD (U) president Sharad Yadav said that no body has the right to change the Sense of the House on Lokpal.
"The sense of house must be honoured. Neither the government, not Team Anna can violate that. We will see that it will be honoured," he said.
Blaming government for misusing CBI, he said, "Congress has the key of CBI. They use CBI to settle political scores."
"When we protest against corruption, government says, 'bring no confidence motion'. By mistake, we did that once. Then they buy people. CBI is the key in the hands of government. We know it," he said.
He also added, "We are giving a promise that all government employees will be under the ambit of Lokpal."
"We will have a complete debate on Lokpal Bill in Parliament. If required duration of Parliament should be extended, even if a special session is required so be it," he said.
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