Civil society for referendum on points of difference on Lokpal ambit

BANGALORE: Civil society members of the joint committee on Lokpal will seek a referendum on the points of difference with government representatives including the issue of bringing the prime minister and the higher judiciary under the ambit of the anti-graft ombudsman.

The referendum on these issues will be sought in 10 constituencies including that of Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal in Delhi and former Law Minister Veerappa Moily, lawyer Prashant Bhushan, one of the civil society members of the joint panel, said at a function here today.

He was speaking at a programme organised by an NGO Jana Sangrama Parishad as part of their campaign against illegal mining, illegal land acquisition and corruption in the state.

Rejecting the government's argument that PMO is so sensitive that it cannot be brought under the ambit of Lokpal, he said, "It is against the basic principles of Constitution. They fail to understand that a corrupt Prime Minister is the greatest security threat to the country and it is necessary he be subjected to anti-corruption investigation."

He said the government's draft of the bill does not even agree to bringing the higher judiciary under the ambit of Lokpal. On the argument offered by the government members of the committee that judiciary can be investigated only by judges, he said it cannot be "unbiased".

The civil society's draft has suggested all public servants be covered under Lokpal, while government has said officers only above grade "A" will be covered, Bhushan said.

If government did not agree to these 'non-negotiable' proposals, except for inclusion of Prime Minister and judiciary under the ambit of Lokpal, which could be discussed before the standing committee, Anna Hazare, who is spearheading the movement against corruption will go on an indefinite fast from August 16, he said.