Lawyer Prashant Bhushan had helped AAP draft the original Jan Lokpal bill in 2013.
New Delhi:
Former AAP leader Prashant Bhushan has challenged Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for a debate on the Jan Lokpal Bill tabled in the assembly on Monday.
"Why is Kejriwal now running away from a Debate he had once challenged Sheila Dikshit to?" he said.
AAP lawmaker Ashish Khaitan offered himself for the debate, an offer that Mr Bhushan quickly rejected. "Why debate with those who weren't even part of the Lokpal movement and were parachuted later," he reasoned.
"What's the point of debating (the bill with) Bhushan. We will debate the bill on the floor of the house. If they had recommendations, they should have sent them in writing," said Gopal Rai, AAP leader.
To blunt the criticism from former aides from the anti-corruption movement who have now turned critics, like Mr Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, AAP turned to activist Anna Hazare, who had headed the movement that raised the demand for the Lokpal - the anti-corruption ombudsman. Mr Hazare has said he welcomes the bill but has a few reservations.
"I have a few reservations with the bill. There should be six people instead of the proposed four in the selection committee of Lokpal. A retired judge and a prominent civil society person should also be added. Also, the Lokpal should be removed only after a High Court judge has looked into the charges against him," he said.
And, Mr Kejriwal immediately welcomed Anna's suggestion. "Anna ji, thank you for your support and blessings. We will certainly implement your suggestions," he tweeted.
"Why is Kejriwal now running away from a Debate he had once challenged Sheila Dikshit to?" he said.
AAP lawmaker Ashish Khaitan offered himself for the debate, an offer that Mr Bhushan quickly rejected. "Why debate with those who weren't even part of the Lokpal movement and were parachuted later," he reasoned.
"What's the point of debating (the bill with) Bhushan. We will debate the bill on the floor of the house. If they had recommendations, they should have sent them in writing," said Gopal Rai, AAP leader.
To blunt the criticism from former aides from the anti-corruption movement who have now turned critics, like Mr Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, AAP turned to activist Anna Hazare, who had headed the movement that raised the demand for the Lokpal - the anti-corruption ombudsman. Mr Hazare has said he welcomes the bill but has a few reservations.
"I have a few reservations with the bill. There should be six people instead of the proposed four in the selection committee of Lokpal. A retired judge and a prominent civil society person should also be added. Also, the Lokpal should be removed only after a High Court judge has looked into the charges against him," he said.
And, Mr Kejriwal immediately welcomed Anna's suggestion. "Anna ji, thank you for your support and blessings. We will certainly implement your suggestions," he tweeted.
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