Ghaziabad, Nov 2: Terming the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill as “cent per cent” identical to its Jan Lokpal Bill, Team Anna today said it is now awaiting to see whether the Centre will “supersede” it by enacting a “weak” law.
Congratulating lawmakers in Uttarakhand Assembly for passing the bill, Team Anna said the Lokayukta Bill will now form the baseline for Centre's Lokpal Bill.
“When the Centre passes the Lokpal bill, it will have provisions to constitute Lokayukta in states. So, if it passes a law weaker than that of Uttarakhand's Bill, then that will supercede the state law.
“We have to see whether the Centre weakens the Uttarakhand law or it strengthens it. The central government should now at least approve the bill passed by the state,” activist Arvind Kejriwal told reporters here.
He said the Centre will have to do at least what the Uttarakhand government has done.
“If the Centre weakens the bill passed by Uttarakhand, then they must know that people will not tolerate such a government,” he said.
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan said the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill was “cent per cent” identical to the one they proposed as Jan Lokpal bill.
Kejriwal said another Team Anna member Kumar Vishwas had contacted the Uttarakhand government from their side and in three meetings in a span of a month the bill was drafted.
“But in the case of the central government, despite nine meetings in a span of 2 and half months of 2-3 hours long duration, the bill that came in August was more to protect the corrupt than punish them,” he said.
“The bill formulated by Uttarakhand government has to be now approved by the Centre. So, it now remains to be seen if the Centre gives the approval or not and if it does, then the question is when?” he said.
