Nitish Kumar: Taking the plunge

Patna, April 8: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today came out strongly in favour of Anna Hazare and pointed to the Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council to suggest that the Centre should agree to the social activist’s demand on a notified committee to draft the Lokpal Bill.

“The UPA government already has a mechanism which is out of the Constitution in the form of the National Advisory Council, headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, which has a say in the drafting of bills,” Nitish told reporters while stressing that the Congress’s stand on the issue is contradictory.

The Centre is against notifying the committee on the ground that it would set a precedent and allow other groups to make similar demands.

Nitish finds the argument flawed. “I cannot understand the plea taken by the Congress. Why cannot an independent body consisting of fifty per cent members of the civil society and headed by an independent chairperson draft the bill? The only difference will be that the National Advisory Council under Madam Sonia Gandhi works under a controlled condition. Even we have been asked by the council for suggestions in framing of the Food Security Bill. The committee which is being sought by Anna Hazare will work in a field condition. The government should allow such a committee to work in field conditions,” Nitish said.

He, however, added that he had no objections to everybody being brought under the purview of the Lokayukta. “All politicians should understand that the issue of corruption is in the heart of the masses. This movement is unstoppable,” Nitish said.