New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS) Opposing the government’s Lokpal bill, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury Thursday said the supremacy of the Indian constitution should not be violated in the legislation.
Participating in the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Lokpal bill, he said the spirit of constitution lay in the first article which says India is a ‘union of states’, and the federal structure should not be compromised with.
‘Supremacy of constitution cannot be violated. Spirit of constitution is that India comprises of states,’ Yechury said.
Pointing to the clause in the bill which provides for formation of Lokayuktas, Yechury said there should be a new section saying that states will constitute Lokayuktas within six months, and the next clause should have guidelines for this purpose.
‘You are fulfilling your promise for Lokayuktas, and also respecting states’ rights. You will allow supremacy of federalism to prevail,’ he said forwarding his suggestion, which the party is also set to move as an amendment.
Yechury also pitched for electoral reforms, calling the money trail in polls the root cause of all corruption. He also sought bringing the corporate sector under Lokpal.
‘The step which is most needed is the control of money trail in elections. Unless electoral reforms are done and money trail in election is controlled, corruption could not be cured,’ he said.
‘Corporates need to be brought under Lokpal, if you don’t cover supply side and only demand side, it will not be cured,’ he said.
‘Corporate funding of polls should be banned… that is the root cause of corruption.’
He also advocated for bringing corruption-related matters with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under Lokpal.
‘All matters under prevention of corruption act taken by CBI should be brought under superintendence of Lokpal,’ he added.
