Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has refused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation for a lokpal selection committee meeting, because he thinks that the special invitee status won’t enable him to express his views properly in the matter. Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahaja are going to attend the meeting that is going to decide over the bill. Kharge wrote a letter, in which he said, “My mere presence as a special invitee without rights of participation, recording of opinion and voting would be a mere eyewash.” “It is a matter of surprise that your government is choosing to adopt this route as a mere paper formality rather than seek any meaningful and constructive participation.”
He also said that, “Let me also remind you (PM) that on December 18, 2014, a bill to amend the lokpal act, 2013 on similar lines was brought for substituting ‘leader of opposition’ with the ‘leader of the single largest party’. I understand that even the select committee of Parliament had put its seal of approval on the amending bill, yet the government has failed to introduce and pass it.”
The rule of the selection meeting is that one member from the opposition party should be present while the decision is being made. The Supreme court had last month told that one member would be invited from Congress for the meeting, that is going to take place on March 1.
Travesty of appointing Lokpal by Modi Govt as it denies voice, suggestions & participation exposed by @MallikarjunINC in a letter to PM today. pic.twitter.com/nGBDIqHbw6
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 1, 2018
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