Lokpal Bill: Naveen Patnaik favours strong Lokpal in the country

BHUBANESWAR: Advocating a strong Lokpal in the country, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said his government was committed to amending the existing law to make an effective Lokayukta in the state.

"We are in favour of a strong Lokpal, and also an effective Lokayukta at the state level and shall take steps to amend the present law after the panchayat elections," Patnaik told reporters here.

Stating that the BJD's stand on the Lokpal Bill had been made clear in the Lok Sabha yesterday, Patnaik said "as far as CBI is concerned, the anti-corruption wing of the agency should come under the Lokpal."

On allegation by opposition Congress that the BJD government was suppressing the state Lokayukta's reports on Vedanta University, Patnaik claimed that a number of pending special reports had so far been cleared in the state cabinet.

"We'll bring rest of the Lokpal's special reports to the cabinet shortly and then place them before the assembly as per procedure," he said.

Stating that he was "very concerned" over the health of Anna Hazare, the chief minister hoped the Gandhian would recover very soon.