Patna, June 3: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today took a fresh swipe at the Centre by refusing to respond to the letter sent by Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee seeking the state’s opinion on the proposed Lokpal bill.

Expressing displeasure over the manner in which the Centre had solicited the views of various stakeholders, including chief ministers, Nitish lobbed the ball back to Delhi, saying he would react or give his suggestions only after going through the final draft bill on Lokpal.

Nitish expressed surprise over the Centre’s move to seek the opinion of the states on the proposed legislation even though the UPA government had not firmed up the contents of the draft bill.

“In my considered view, without looking into the contents of the final draft bill, it will be inappropriate to express any opinion… Let the Centre first prepare the complete draft bill. It will not be proper to say anything when the process of consultation (between the Centre and civil society) is on. We want to know the Centre’s view before presenting our side… What is your final draft, where is your draft,” Nitish told reporters after emerging from the Cabinet meeting.

Nitish, who was critical of the format in which the Centre had sought the opinion from the states, said: “I could not understand the logic behind seeking opinion of the chief ministers on such an important issue through a questionnaire format. I have heard that marketing surveys are conducted in a questionnaire format but this is certainly not the way to solicit states’ views on crucial issue, that too by June 6.”

Questioning the Centre’s intentions to wrap up the consultation process with the states in a hurried manner, he said that Bihar’s resident commissioner in Delhi received a faxed letter on June 1 from finance minister Mukherjee.

The letter, Nitish said, neither had any number nor any enclosure of the draft Lokpal bill prepared by civil society members as claimed by the Centre.

“There is no denying that the issue is of vital significance and requires to be addressed with utmost seriousness and diligence. Law-making is serious work. It’s beyond my comprehension why the Centre is showing unnecessary haste without the draft being finalised,” said Nitish. The chief minister has written to Mukherjee articulating his reservations.

Nitish said the Union government has the power to enact a law and also to present a bill to Parliament directly without consulting the states. At times, it may be relevant to seek the views of the states, particularly when some of the issues being addressed in the legislation impinge on state subjects, but that stage would arrive only when the Centre has firmed up its stand and settled the final draft, he added.

Asked whether he would support yoga guru Baba Ramdev in his fight against black money and corruption, Nitish said every person has the right to express his views in a democratic manner, which is a step in the right direction.

Nitish’s stand on the bill could spell further trouble for the Centre which has been at the receiving end from the civil society group demanding the inclusion of the Prime Minister and Supreme Court/high court judges within the ambit of the Lokpal.