BJP not interested in halting corruption: V Narayanasamy

NEW DELHI: Government today accused opposition BJP of stalling key anti-corruption legislations in recently concluded session of Parliament.

"The government took all possible steps to pass the anti-corruption legislations. These legislations were listed as agenda in Parliament. Unfortunately the opposition parties including BJP did not allow it to be discussed," Union Minister V Narayanasamy told PTI.

The statement came a day after Union Cabinet rejected the ordinance route for the anti-corruption measures despite pressure from Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for bringing such laws.

Narayanasamy alleged that BJP was indulging in "double standard" on the issue of anti-graft legislations.

"Whenever government takes any step, they (BJP) stop (it). This clearly shows the double standard of BJP," said Narayanasamy, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

However, he refused to speak much on the yesterday's Cabinet meeting.

"Whatever cabinet decides, we have to respect that and go by that," the Minister said.

Three bills-- Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, Citizens Charter Bill and The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials--related to Ministry of Personnel could not be taken up in the Parliament session which ended on February 21.

The Union Cabinet, which met yesterday, had rejected the ordinance route on the measures feeling that "full deliberations" were required in Parliament on the matter.