Dalit leaders to submit their Lokpal draft to Parliamentary Parliamentary Standing Committee

NEW DELHI: Claiming that the versions of the Lokpal Bill with the government are "incomplete", a group of Dalit and minority leaders will tomorrow submit their version of the anti-graft law to the Parliamentary Standing Committee dealing with the issue.

The delegation led by Udit Raj, Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, will meet Standing Committee chairman Abishek Singhvi and submit their version of the proposed law -- the 'Bahujan Lokpal Bill' -- for consideration of the Parliamentary panel.

The group will seek the inclusion of monetary corruption, socio-political corruption and religion-based corruption besides other issues.

"The versions of government, Jan Lokpal Bill by Team Anna and NCPRI's bill are incomplete versions to deal with corruption holistically. These versions do not address the issues of SC/ST/OBC and minorities," a statement released by the group said.

The Dalit and minority community activists had earlier complained that their voices were being ignored both by the 'civil society' and the government.

"Our draft will protect minority community by bringing the funds allocated for minority welfare also under the ambit of Lokpal," Raj said.

The Bahujan Lokpal draft envisages bringing NGOs, corporate houses and media under the ambit of Lokpal. Another provision includes reservation for minorities in the 11-member Lokpal Committee.

Raj said they wanted their draft also to be considered by the government and they were for a final version of the bill that incorporates provisions from the Jan Lokpal draft, the Government's draft, the NCPRI draft and also the Bahujan Lokpal society draft.