News-Rahul Gandhi Calls for Strengthening Lokpal by making Constitutional body

Rahul Gandhi Calls for Strengthening Lokpal by making Constitutional body

AICC General Secretary and Member of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Friday called for a stronger Lokpal by making it a Constitutional body like the Election Commission. He said a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political programme is essential to deal effectively with the menace of corruption. Rahul thanked, Anna Hazare saying Anna has helped articulate public sentiment against corruption.

Making a statement in the Loksabha on Friday he asserted that the real question before the members of Parliament is to take the battle against corruption head-on. He said, corruption can't be wished away, as it will require a comprehensive programme of action. He said, he had serious doubts about the perception that the enactment of a single bill will eradicate corruption.

Rahul said, Lokpal alone cannot be a substitute to anti-corruption code and a set of effective laws is required covering various fields. He said, these include government funding of elections and political parties, transparency in public procurement, proper regulation of sectors fueling corruption like land in mining, tax reforms and grievance redressal mechanism in public service delivery.

He urged public representatives to work together to ensure parliament functions at its optimum capacity and enacts these laws in a just and time bound manner.

He cautioned that a tactical incursion divorced from the machinery of an elected government that seeks to undo the checks and balances to protect the supremacy of Parliament sets a dangerous precedent for a democracy.

He reminded that today it is a proposed law against corruption, tomorrow it can be an issue that attacks the plurality of the society and democracy. He called for moving democracy deeper into villages and cities and urged the members to commit themselves to truth and probity in public life.

Speaking to reporters outside parliament, Rahul Gandhi said that his proposal to set up an Election Commission like body to deal with the menace of corruption is a game changing idea.