BJP to move 6 amendments to Lokpal Bill

Unhappy over content of the new Lokpal Bill, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday said it would move amendments on issues such as inclusion of the Central Bureau of Investigation and against reservation for minorities, when the proposed legislation comes up for consideration and passing in Parliament on Tuesday.

Party sources said Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and eminent lawyer Arun Jaitley has been assigned the task of preparing the amendments.

BJP is likely to move six amendments to the new Lokpal Bill. The party is opposed to giving reservation to minorities in the nine-member Lokpal as well as the clause which states "not less than 50 per cent" reservation.

It maintains that both these provisions are against the Constitution as reservation cannot be given to minorities and cannot exceed 50 per cent. Moreover, Lokpal will be a constitutional body like the CEC, CVC and CAG and there is no provision for reservation in such institutions.

However, it remains to be seen as to who all will support the BJP on this issue in  Parliament. Its National Democratic Alliance ally Shiromani Akali Dal may oppose BJP on this issue.

Other amendments likely to be moved by BJP are for inclusion of CBI within Lokpal's ambit, bringing corruption cases against Group C officials under the Lokpal instead of CVC and on the appointment of Lokayuktas which the opposition insists is against the federal structure of the Constitution.

"BJP will move amendments on issues we do not agree with. We are custodians of a strong and effective Lokpal. Congress is not honest in its intentions and policies. It moves two steps ahead and four steps backward on the issue," party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.