New Delhi: Highlights of BJP leader Sushma Swaraj's speech in the Lokpal Debate:
This is a historic debate. How long it lasts is not important...we must conduct it courteously...if you don't like what I am saying, let your representatives respond...but let us show the country that its representatives can function well and healthy debate.
The Lokpal Bill has been placed in Parliament nine times. Even we failed to get it passed twice when we were in power.
The timelines that Anna keeps giving...some people are offended that how can they dictate this...but think about this...for so many years, we have all failed to push it through. I blame our party as well. Every idea has a time. I think we can deliver an effective Lokpal to the people. I believe this because there is a huge national movement for it now. Through his campaign, Anna has brought awareness of the Lokpal Bill to everyone.
People are unable to afford two meals a day. But those in power are swindling crores. People ask why a government that keeps saying it wants to fight corruption...but the Lokpal Bill the government delivered...was weak. That is why people have questioned your motives about how serious you are. Your version of the Bill fuelled their anger. The PM addressed us, but there were gaps in his speech. Anna has completed the 11th day of his hunger strike for the Lokpal Bill. Thousands are joining him.
The PM said in his speech about Anna "I applaud you, I salute you." He said we would move soon to introduce an effective Lokpal. But the next day, the government was meant to introduce a resolution which would list the three non-negotiables listed by Anna. We had some concerns, we met with Team Anna. Both sides had some doubts, we came to an understanding.
I want to ask the Speaker the understanding behind relaxing convention for Rahul Gandhi in zero hour. We kept asking yesterday when the government would move the motion that would lead to the debate yesterday. We were hearing Rahul Gandhi would make a statement in the House on Anna. I looked behind to check if he was there, because he appears very rarely in Parliament. But records did not show his speech. Yet, he was allowed time for his statement. The PM came rushing in to listen to Rahul Gandhi. I thought Rahul therefore must be about to deliver some very important insight.
You (the Speaker) barely allow us three minutes. Rahul Gandhi spoke for 15 minutes. "Was he making an address to nation or an intervention in zero hour, I'd like to ask the Speaker." Zero Hour is intended for debates, not for lectures to the nation.
The leadership that the PM had shown just one day before that was wiped out by Rahul.
Our PM speaks very rarely...so when he does, please listen to him. He told his Cabinet his office should be covered by the Lokpal. But nobody listened to him! How can the Prime Minister be excluded from the purview of the Lokpal? Ministers accused of scams are saying in court they want to call him as a witness. At this time, how can we consider exempting the PM's office from the Lokpal's domain? PM must be included in the Lokpal with exemptions only for national security and public order matters.
But we don't believe judiciary should be under the Lokpal. We propose not just the Judicial Accountability Bill but also a National Judicial Commission.
The CBI is misused for political vendetta. Look at how the CBI being used against Jagan Mohan Reddy now that he is not with the Congress. CBI has become Congress Bachao Institution. What sort of party is this where when you are with them, you are absolutely pure...and when you leave...you suddenly are corrupt? We want an independent CBI...so let it be brought under the Lokpal, we support that.
The constitution gives us MPs immunity inside the House. That immunity should continue. But outside the House, we are ordinary citizens. Our behaviour outside should be subject to the Lokpal's review.
The committee that appoints the Lokpal must have more opposition members than the government to ensure a fair selection process.
As for whether the Lokpal Act should apply to states...previous drafts have been called the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bills. We suggest a legislation that can later apply to states if the states agree. We propose a model legislation on the Lokayukta for states.
We must allow the Lokpal to cover junior bureaucrats...otherwise, the average person will feel we have not addressed the corruption he or she faces in everyday life.
So we support Anna Hazare on the three points he wants included in the Lokpal Bill.
This is a historic debate. How long it lasts is not important...we must conduct it courteously...if you don't like what I am saying, let your representatives respond...but let us show the country that its representatives can function well and healthy debate.
The Lokpal Bill has been placed in Parliament nine times. Even we failed to get it passed twice when we were in power.
The timelines that Anna keeps giving...some people are offended that how can they dictate this...but think about this...for so many years, we have all failed to push it through. I blame our party as well. Every idea has a time. I think we can deliver an effective Lokpal to the people. I believe this because there is a huge national movement for it now. Through his campaign, Anna has brought awareness of the Lokpal Bill to everyone.
People are unable to afford two meals a day. But those in power are swindling crores. People ask why a government that keeps saying it wants to fight corruption...but the Lokpal Bill the government delivered...was weak. That is why people have questioned your motives about how serious you are. Your version of the Bill fuelled their anger. The PM addressed us, but there were gaps in his speech. Anna has completed the 11th day of his hunger strike for the Lokpal Bill. Thousands are joining him.
The PM said in his speech about Anna "I applaud you, I salute you." He said we would move soon to introduce an effective Lokpal. But the next day, the government was meant to introduce a resolution which would list the three non-negotiables listed by Anna. We had some concerns, we met with Team Anna. Both sides had some doubts, we came to an understanding.
I want to ask the Speaker the understanding behind relaxing convention for Rahul Gandhi in zero hour. We kept asking yesterday when the government would move the motion that would lead to the debate yesterday. We were hearing Rahul Gandhi would make a statement in the House on Anna. I looked behind to check if he was there, because he appears very rarely in Parliament. But records did not show his speech. Yet, he was allowed time for his statement. The PM came rushing in to listen to Rahul Gandhi. I thought Rahul therefore must be about to deliver some very important insight.
You (the Speaker) barely allow us three minutes. Rahul Gandhi spoke for 15 minutes. "Was he making an address to nation or an intervention in zero hour, I'd like to ask the Speaker." Zero Hour is intended for debates, not for lectures to the nation.
The leadership that the PM had shown just one day before that was wiped out by Rahul.
Our PM speaks very rarely...so when he does, please listen to him. He told his Cabinet his office should be covered by the Lokpal. But nobody listened to him! How can the Prime Minister be excluded from the purview of the Lokpal? Ministers accused of scams are saying in court they want to call him as a witness. At this time, how can we consider exempting the PM's office from the Lokpal's domain? PM must be included in the Lokpal with exemptions only for national security and public order matters.
But we don't believe judiciary should be under the Lokpal. We propose not just the Judicial Accountability Bill but also a National Judicial Commission.
The CBI is misused for political vendetta. Look at how the CBI being used against Jagan Mohan Reddy now that he is not with the Congress. CBI has become Congress Bachao Institution. What sort of party is this where when you are with them, you are absolutely pure...and when you leave...you suddenly are corrupt? We want an independent CBI...so let it be brought under the Lokpal, we support that.
The constitution gives us MPs immunity inside the House. That immunity should continue. But outside the House, we are ordinary citizens. Our behaviour outside should be subject to the Lokpal's review.
The committee that appoints the Lokpal must have more opposition members than the government to ensure a fair selection process.
As for whether the Lokpal Act should apply to states...previous drafts have been called the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bills. We suggest a legislation that can later apply to states if the states agree. We propose a model legislation on the Lokayukta for states.
We must allow the Lokpal to cover junior bureaucrats...otherwise, the average person will feel we have not addressed the corruption he or she faces in everyday life.
So we support Anna Hazare on the three points he wants included in the Lokpal Bill.
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