'Parliament supremacy must not be diluted'

Many members also sought that corporate houses, NGOs and media should also be brought under the purview of the proposed Lokpal Bill, alleging that corruption is rampant in these sectors.

“Supremacy of Parliament can not be diluted in any case,” CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said joining the discussion on  on the issues relating to the setting up of the Lokpal. He, however, used the opportunity to make scathing attack on the UPA government saying, “You have made a mess of the situation. One after another scandals surfaced (in UPA regime). This government is found to be most tainted government.”

Underlining that Anna was not the only one fighting corruption in the country but there are many more  who are making similar effort in their own way, the CPI leader said Anna’s movement had aroused the mass because the ruling coalition gave them the opportunity to do so.

“Country is at crossroads. One person on fast has rocked the Parliament and the Country,” Dasgupta said adding it was for the government to explain why the situation turned volatile after Anna sat on his fast.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Harekrushna Mahtab disapproved of the suggestion to bring parliamentarians under the ambit of the proposed bill. He also was not in agreement with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’ suggestion for making Lokpal a constitutional body, saying that the Election Commission is not accountable to Parliament but Constitution of India.
“Make Lokpal accountable to Parliament. We don’t need Lokpal to be accountable to Constitution of India,” he said.

The BJD leader also sought that the federal structure of the government should be protected when Lokpal is constituted. “No attempt should be made to thrust any central law on states. We will resist it,” he said.

Underling that a person who prosecutes should not be the one to punish, Mahtab also suggested not to empower a person or a group in the proposed Lokpal Bill “so that they create havoc".

Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete said that Lokpal should be constituted while keeping in mind the dignity of Parliament, Constitution and the democratic system of the country.
Maintaining that a bill to create a “superpower centre” should not be rushed through, Geete wanted inclusion of Prime Minister in Lokpal’s ambit, but said constitutional provisions on immunity for MPs should not be disturbed.

Demanding withdrawal of the government’s “useless” Lokpal Bill and working out of a fresh one, CPM leader Basudeb Acharia said the Lokpal instituted by this law would not be independent and become “another investigating agency”.

Acharia sought inclusion of the prime minister under the ambit of the proposed Lokpal and expansion of the definition of corruption to tackle the menace more effectively. He sought inclusion of provisions for taking punitive action against corporate houses indulging in corrupt practices involving public servants in the Lokpal bill.