New Delhi, Dec 27 (ANI): Asserting that the government should send back the Lokpal Bill draft back to the Standing Committee for reconsideration, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday ridiculously called for the formation of an All-India Committee to monitor veteran social activist Anna Hazare's health.
Participating in the debate on Lokpal Bill inside the Lok Sabha today, Yadav said: "We are here today to debate this Lokpal Bill and nation has heard speeches by many politicians. The Prime Minister also made a political speech aimed at elections. I want a tough law to fight corruption, nobody is against this."
"Anna is in Mumbai. We are all very concerned about his health. We want to form an all-India committee for his health. At the drop of a hat, there is an agitation. You (PM) bring strong Lokpal, we will make you the Lokpal," he added.
Further commenting on the demands over the inclusion of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the ambit of the anti-graft bill, Yadav said: "We had heard Draupadi had five husbands. Now, CBI will have nine husbands? Send this Bill back to the Standing Committee."
"You (government) have created this problem by entertaining those (Team Anna) who will never be satisfied. Take back this Bill, it is a noose around our necks," he added.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, earlier in the day said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should function without interference through any Government 'dictat', but no entity should be created which has 'onerous executive responsibilities without any accountability'.
"We believe that the CBI should function without interference through any Government dictat. But no institution and no individual, howsoever high he may be, should be free from accountability. All institutional structures must be consistent with our Constitution. Today we are given to believe that a Government that is directly elected by the people and accountable to it cannot be trusted but a body that will not derive its legitimacy from the people directly or be accountable to it could be trusted to wield its immense powers with honour and trust," said Dr. Singh.
"No entity should be created inconsistent with our constitutional framework and charged with onerous executive responsibilities without any accountability. In the ultimate analysis, all institutions within the framework of the Constitution are accountable to Parliament and Parliament alone. In our enthusiasm to enact this law we must not falter. I believe that the CBI should function independently of the Lokpal. I also believe that the CBI should function independently of the Government. But independence does not mean absence of accountability," he added.
The Prime Minister said the government has proposed a process of appointment of the CBI Director, which involves the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India or his nominee and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Dr. Singh also said the UPA Government has taken decisive steps to fight corruption.
Anna Hazare is presently on a three-day token fast at the MMRDA grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex of suburban Mumbai along with his close aides Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia to protest against the government's 'weak' Lokpal Bill.
Team Anna has so far rejected the government's version of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament, and termed it to be weak. They have been pressurising the government to accept their demands including bringing the CBI under the ambit of the anti-corruption ombudsman. (ANI)
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