Activist Arvind Kejriwal asked why PM ministers against including him under Lokpal Bill
NEW DELHI: On Monday Civil society activist Arvind Kejriwal sought to know why government leaders were so opposed to bringing the prime minister under the Lokpal’s purview.
Kejriwal asked at a news conference, why were his ministers against this while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had himself stated that he has no objection to being covered by the proposed Lokpal bill,
“The PM himself said once that I have no problems…Is there some kind of disconnect (then)?”
He said even Pranab Mukherjee had advocated the inclusion of the prime minister in a Lokpal bill when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled the country.
The point was reiterated, he added, even as late as January this year. “What has happened? This is completely mysterious…We don’t understand.”
Why is the PM scared on coming in the ambit of the bill if he is clean and honest? Democracy cannot be taken lightly thinking that people have elected you for the next five years, said activist Prashant Bhushan and also part of the bill drafting panel.
Digvijay Singh fuelled the Sunday debate by saying that not only the prime minister but also the judiciary, NGOs and corporate houses should be brought under the Lokpal’s purview.
