Cong backs Nitish's stand on Bihar Lokayukta row

The Congress on Friday supported Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's stance on the issue of the state lokayukta bill and said elected representatives were "answerable" only to the people.

The Congress on Friday supported Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's stance on the issue of the state lokayukta bill and said elected representatives were "answerable" only to the people.

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Responding to Team Anna's criticism of Bihar government's draft lokayukta bill, Kumar had on Thursday said he did not require anybody's certificate in the crusade against corruption in the state.

Supporting Kumar's statement, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "In Parliament and in (state) assemblies, elected representatives owe their answer to the people."

In reply to a question on the Congress response on Kumar having snubbed Team Anna on the issue, Tewari said, " The essence of Kumar's statement is correct… His statement is self-speaking. At the root of his entire assertion is the fact that elected representatives owe their answers to the people."

Kumar had reacted sharply to key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal's criticism of the draft Bihar Lokayukta bill. "I don't need anybody's certificate… our government has done so much for eradicating corruption which no other government did after independence," Kumar had said.

Bill disappointing, says Shanti Bhushan
Former law minister and Team Anna member Shanti Bhushan on Friday said he was very disappointed with draft of Bihar Lokayukta bill. "I know Nitish ji from the days of JP movement and have known him to be a very good person. We expected a very strong bill, but we have been very disappointed."

"The lokayukta in Bihar would have to take permission from the government before prosecuting a corrupt officer, therefore all power lies with the government," he said.