Bettiah, Bihar:
After a fiery exchange of words with Anna Hazare's group of activists, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said, "We will appreciate suggestions or opinions from any individual, team or groups on constituting a strong and effective Lokayukta."
Yesterday, Mr Kumar did not mince his words when reacting to criticism from Team Anna about his version of a new law against corruption Bihar. "I don't need a certificate from them. I am in direct contact with the people of my state... everyone should know their limits," he had said.
Today, during a townhall meeting or janta durbar in Bettiah, the Chief Minister said he "does not hold a grudge against any group or team" and said he is committed to introducing a tough and effective Lokaykuta Act, ideally in this Winter Session of the Bihar Assembly. The draft for this act, he said, is still being finalised by his government, suggesting that Team Anna's criticism of it may have been premature. Mr Kumar also said the Bill would be placed on a government website to elicit feedback.
Anna is championing a national Jan Lokpal Bill - People's Ombudsman Bill - which births a new independent agency that would handle complaints of grafts against government servants. How that agency's members would be selection - and the extent of their powers - has pitted Anna against the Union government.
This week, Anna's key aide, Arvind Kejriwal, said the activists are disappointed with the Lokayukta Bill that Bihar is blueprinting. Mr Kejriwal said the Bihar Bill shows the same sort of limitations that the Union government has been trying to introduce for the Lokpal or ombudsman agency. Team Anna says that Bihar's version of the Bill gives the government too great a say in the selection and removal of members of the Lokpal; it also requires the ombudsman to get the government's approval to investigate or prosecute an officer accused of graft.
Mr Kejriwal said that Mr Kumar should draw from the Lokayukta Bill passed recently by the state of Uttarakhand, which his ruled by the BJP. That legislation has been hailed as exemplary by Team Anna because it includes all the features the activists deem necessary for an effective Lokpal. For example, the Chief Minister of the state would be accountable to the Lokpal, along with all bureaucrats and senior judges.
Mr Kumar runs his government in Bihar in alliance with the BJP. He has said there is question of his replicating Uttarakhand's Bill, and that some of the points that have irked Team Anna have also been misreported.
Yesterday, Mr Kumar did not mince his words when reacting to criticism from Team Anna about his version of a new law against corruption Bihar. "I don't need a certificate from them. I am in direct contact with the people of my state... everyone should know their limits," he had said.
Today, during a townhall meeting or janta durbar in Bettiah, the Chief Minister said he "does not hold a grudge against any group or team" and said he is committed to introducing a tough and effective Lokaykuta Act, ideally in this Winter Session of the Bihar Assembly. The draft for this act, he said, is still being finalised by his government, suggesting that Team Anna's criticism of it may have been premature. Mr Kumar also said the Bill would be placed on a government website to elicit feedback.
Anna is championing a national Jan Lokpal Bill - People's Ombudsman Bill - which births a new independent agency that would handle complaints of grafts against government servants. How that agency's members would be selection - and the extent of their powers - has pitted Anna against the Union government.
This week, Anna's key aide, Arvind Kejriwal, said the activists are disappointed with the Lokayukta Bill that Bihar is blueprinting. Mr Kejriwal said the Bihar Bill shows the same sort of limitations that the Union government has been trying to introduce for the Lokpal or ombudsman agency. Team Anna says that Bihar's version of the Bill gives the government too great a say in the selection and removal of members of the Lokpal; it also requires the ombudsman to get the government's approval to investigate or prosecute an officer accused of graft.
Mr Kejriwal said that Mr Kumar should draw from the Lokayukta Bill passed recently by the state of Uttarakhand, which his ruled by the BJP. That legislation has been hailed as exemplary by Team Anna because it includes all the features the activists deem necessary for an effective Lokpal. For example, the Chief Minister of the state would be accountable to the Lokpal, along with all bureaucrats and senior judges.
Mr Kumar runs his government in Bihar in alliance with the BJP. He has said there is question of his replicating Uttarakhand's Bill, and that some of the points that have irked Team Anna have also been misreported.
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