New Delhi, Dec 31: As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh counselled patience on effecting various laws to counter corruption, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi tonight reminded the government that it is not the number of bills but its content which matter in this regard.
“With great respect towards the Prime Minister, I must say that the issue is not the number of bills but the content of the bills. Whether these meet the real objectives or are these some more laws being placed on the statute book needing strengthening even before these are made into law?,” Bedi told PTI.
Her comments came as the Prime Minister, in his new year message, said said it was “unfortunate” that the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill could not be passed by the Rajya Sabha and asserted that the government was committed to an effective anti-corruption law.
He also said the government has taken several “transformational” initiatives to tackle corruption which will be “recognised as such down the line”. In this context, he listed introduction of Bills on Citizen's Charter and Judicial Accountability in Parliament and said “these initiatives will take time to have full effect and we must, therefore, be patient.”
Bedi said, “for instance; Lokpal without CBI; Judicial Accountability Bill without including corruption issues concerning judiciary; Whistle blower and Grievance redressal bills are back to the same systems which themselves need reform.
“Without a paradigm shift and with the same tools which are the cause of the problem, how can radical change come about which the common man and situation is demanding?” she asked.
