Lokpal should also cover NGOs, corporates: Digvijay Singh

Lily

B.R
Staff member
New Delhi April 13:

The Congress party Wednesday demanded that the joint draft committee on the anti-graft Lokpal Bill consider issues of corruption in NGOs and corporate sector as well, and not just limit itself to politicians and bureaucrats.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said that anti-corruption law in the US can look into the functioning of the corporate sector and non-governmental organisations. "It should be considered here also," he told reporters.

Digvijay Singh also said that till now, he considered veteran social activist Anna Hazare a Gandhian with impeccable secular credentials. But his praise for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was not acceptable, Singh added. "He is a very fine human being who has done excellent service in the rural sector, but he should know that there has not been Lokayukta (ombudsman) in Gujarat for seven years," Singh said.

"The post is vacant and he is praising Modi. Why does he not pressurise Modi over the Jan Lokpal Bill and for appointing the Lokayukta, as people of Gujarat do not know where to complain?" he said. Singh also said that corruption would not end with the enactment of the bill and that a comprehensive strategy needed to be evolved taking into consideration suggestions like the five-point plan unveiled by Congress president Sonia Gandhi at the recent party plenary.

Asked whether representatives of the civil society in the joint committee should declare their assets, as done by the ministers on the panel, he said: "It will be in the highest tradition of transparency if they declare."

 
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