Lokpal draft report a disappointment: Kiran Bedi

Disappointed over the draft report of the Standing Committee on Lokpal Bill, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi has warned that going back on a commitment given by Parliament would call for a mass movement again.

Disappointed over the draft report of the Standing Committee on Lokpal Bill, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi has warned that going back on a commitment given by Parliament would call for a mass movement again.

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When asked for her comments on the draft report which sought to keep lower bureaucracy out of the ambit of the ombudsman, among others, Bedi told PTI: "This is going back on the commitment and will call for mass movement again".

The Standing Committee has also recommended keeping out judiciary and MPs' conduct in House out of the Lokpal's purview and rejected the demand for hiving off the anti-corruption wing of CBI to come under its jurisdiction.

Team Anna has been insisting that the lower bureaucracy, higher judiciary, provisions for Citizen Charter and setting up of Lokayuktas in state level be included in the ambit of Lokpal Bill.

Bedi called the exclusion of judiciary a setback to people's demands as people "overwhelmingly" wanted judiciary in. "By this, corruption in judiciary is covered nowhere, neither in Judicial Accountability Bill nor in Lokpal".

Bedi also said that if the anti-corruption wing of CBI does not come under Lokpal's jurisdiction, the country will never see successful expeditious prosecutions of the high and mighty.

Reacting to members unanimously recommending conferring constitutional status on Lokpal, Bedi expressed apprehension that "this may become the reason for not having it".

"For the government in power does not have a two thirds majority in Parliament. It will be used to not pass the bill," she said.

However, she welcomed the proposal to bring corporates, media and NGOs under the ambit of Lokpal. "This is welcome. But we need to know the exact provisions," she said.