Hyderabad: Alleging that ruling Congress is “not serious” about bringing Lokpal Bill, BJP today said the UPA government could have brought the anti-graft legislation long ago as there was consensus over the issue. “Congress is not serious about Lokpal (Bill).
The consensus had already emerged one year ago in May 2012. (In) one and half years, there were three peaceful sessions. They (Congress) could have brought the bill any time,” BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar told reporters here. “Because, there were unanimous recommendations. If they were genuine enough, they would have brought the bill and passed it. We were ready to pass it unanimously. But, government does not want and that's why we have doubts,” he said.
Giving a major push to Lokpal, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi yesterday appealed to political parties to set aside differences to ensure its passage to fight corruption. Javdekar, whose party is supporting the Telangana cause, also said that intentions of Congress are doubtful even on the separate statehood issue.
“We have doubts about Congress' intentions on Telangana. Congress has given time till January 23 for AP legislature (to send its views on Telangana bill). This session (of Parliament) is not going to run till then. That means the bill (is) not going to come in this session. I have doubts whether they would bring the bill in the session to be held in February ahead of elections,” the Rajya Sabha MP said. Javdekar said Congress has ended up dividing people of Andhra Pradesh for political gains over the issue of state's bifurcation.
“Congress' electoral strategy is to get seats in Telangana by announcing formation of Telangana and get seats in Seemandhra by not giving Telangana. They will have to face defeat in both places because of this misadventure,” he said.
Javdekar also took a dig at Congress over the state Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy's open defiance in favour of united Andhra and over no-confidence motion by Seemandhra MPs against Telanagana.
“...What is this party in which chief minister is a rebel and MPs are moving a no-confidence motion against the government. Still, there is no action against them. There is no action on chief minister,” Javdekar said. Replying to a query on reports of an alliance between TDP and BJP for general elections in 2014, Javdekar said polls are yet to be declared.
“We will tell if something happens,” he said. The speculation about a tie-up between BJP and TDP got strengthened with TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu attending the swearing-in ceremony of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bhopal yesterday and also reportedly holding talks with top BJP leaders.
Javdekar replied in the negative when asked about the perception that BJP has softened its stand on Telangana after Naidu met BJP leaders.
“No..If somebody has perception, I cannot explain. Our stand is very clear right from day one. We stand by Telangana. We want Telangana. It should happen peacefully,” he said. The BJP spokesman also participated in the ‘Run for Unity' organised by his party this morning in the city.
