Lokpal: Hegde slams govt

Bangalore: Key Team Anna member N Santosh Hegde on Saturday accused the government of trying to bring in multiple legislations by splitting provisions mooted by the civil society group. 

"There is an attempt to make multiple bills," the former Supreme Court judge said, pointing out that the bills such as Right to Service and Judges Accountability that are being talked about by the government, are in fact part of suggestions mooted by Team Anna in their draft bill. 

"...that attempt is going on which is disturbing," Hegde said and alleged that the Jan Lokpal draft is now being sought to be bifurcated to "have an argument that we (the government) have not rejected it...but we are bringing separate bills." 

The former Karnataka Lokayukta noted that Team Anna had included Judges Accountability Bill in its draft when it was pending for a long time and nobody was talking about and fighting for it, adding that the Right to Service Bill would come under the citizen's charter mooted by the group. 

"Right now, let them (the Government) show their concern for a strong Lokpal" which, he said, needs special attention. Separate Right to Service and Judges Accountability bills can come later and once they are enacted, those relevant portions can be deleted from Lokpal. 

Suggestions in some government quarters that the bill to be introduced in the Parliament would in fact be stronger than the one mooted by Team Anna are (only) a "good talk," and the question is "when will that be (a stronger bill)."