Union minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on Sunday said the Congress would convince West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on the Lokpal Bill. Even the BJP would realise it soon and support the bill, he added.
Bansal, who was talking to reporters after the Congress won the mayoral election in the city, criticised the BJP for its role on the lokpal.
He said the plan to move 187 amendments in the Rajya Sabha was the most conclusive evidence that some parties did not want the bill to be passed.
“We would have been a subject of ridicule had we accepted these amendments. The bill would have been full of loopholes and become the laughing stock. We have to take care of the legal soundness of the bill, of its constitutional propriety. We can’t destroy our other institutions to set up a new one. What is wrong if we sought time to reconcile to these amendments to be able to come up with a rational proposal?”
He said, “The government is committed to bringing a strong bill which would serve the purpose, but we need the support of the opposition. The government is doing its bit but the opposition is creating unnecessary nuisance.”
He said there should be a provision for the right to reject during voting, but he disagreed with the right to recall, as it was “impractical”.
However, he favoured an open voting system in mayoral elections. When asked about the key role played by the local MP in the mayoral elections, the minister said it was the NDA that had made the law.
{{/usCountry}}However, he favoured an open voting system in mayoral elections. When asked about the key role played by the local MP in the mayoral elections, the minister said it was the NDA that had made the law.
{{/usCountry}}“The local MC functioning has become better in recent years and we are committed to continuing that,” said Bansal.