Is UPA at the Centre delaying BJP ‘Lokayukta’ Promise?
The central government’s has decided to keep on hold its assent to the Goa Lokayukta Bill may delay the appointment of a Lokayukta in the state.
The state on Tuesday received a letter from Parliament’s legislature secretary stating that in view of the Jan Lokpal Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passing, assent cannot be given to the Goa Lokayukta Bill.
Replying to the letter, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday wrote to the Parliament legislature secretary stating, “The issue of Jan Lokpal and Lokayukta are separate, we request the central government to give assent to state Lokayukta Bill.”
Chief secretary Sanjay Srivastava said that the Goa bill has already been cleared by the Union ministries of personnel and training and law and judiciary, while the Union home ministry has raised some queries which are being followed up.
Parrikar in his budget speech had said that once his government received the President’s assent for the Lokayukta Bill it would immediately appoint a Lokayukta in the state.
The new cabinet at its first meeting had directed the Chief Secretary to follow up on the process of getting the President’s assent to the Lokayukta Bill. Parrikar, aiming to keep his promise of appointing the Lokayukta in the state within 100 days, had also requested the state governor to vigorously follow up on the same with the central government.
