The INC for the fifth time this year has opposed the Lokpal Selection Committee by boycotting it. The opposition has vehemently protested that it will continue to do so until the leader of Congress is given the status of a full-fledged member of the panel.
“The government continues to invite me as a special invitee to the Selection Committee meeting despite being aware of the fact that there is no provision under section 4 of the Lokpal Act, 2013. Accepting this invitation to attend as a ‘Special Invitee’ without rights of participation, recording of opinion and voting in the procedure would be violative of both the letter and spirit of the Lokpal Act.” said Mallikarjun Kharge in his address.
The selection committee will set up a search panel for recommending names for the appointment of the anti-graft ombudsman, the Lokpal, and its members. Previously, Kharge had also written a letter to the Prime Minister addressing the fact that in the previous meetings to the Congress leaders had only been called under a ‘Special Invitee’ to the council which, according to him leaves no space for’ constructive participation’.
Under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, ombudsmen are to be appointed at the Centre and in states for ‘inquiring into allegations of corruption against public functionaries or any public body’.The Lokpal Bill was passed by Parliament in 2013, but the appointment of the anti-corruption ombudsman has been delayed for the last four years. The opposition had sent letters to the Prime Minister rejecting the invitation extended to him to attend the meetings of the Selection Committee held this year on March 1, April 10, July 19 and August 20 as a “special invitee”
“I am, therefore, forced, once again to respectfully decline the invitation to attend the meeting of the Selection Committee until the leader of single largest opposition party is conferred the status of a full-fledged member as envisioned in the Lokpal Act, 2013,” added the leader of the INC, in the Lok Sabha.