Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 11 (IANS) Echoing his Team Anna colleagues Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, lawyer Shanti Bhushan Friday said he was “disappointed” with Bihar’s Lokayukta bill as it gives primacy to the government.

“I am very disappointed with the Bill,” Bhushan said in a statement here.

Reacting to the positive reaction from Congress on the bill, the activist said he was unaware of the “deal” between the Nitish Kumar government and Congress-led central government, but cautioned the state government against public opinion.

“I do not know what is the deal between the two, only Nitishji can explain that. But if the government wanted to get votes, then it should have passed the Jan Lokpal Bill as the government that supports Jan Lokpal Billl would sure win the 2014 (general) elections,” he said.

Bhushan said that the talks with Nitish Kumar on the bill had been positive and Hazare had also met the Bihar chief minister on the issue.

“… I know Nitishji from the time time of JP movement and have known him to be a very good person so we had expected a very strong bill but we are disappointed,” he said.

“In the selection committee, four out of seven members are from Government. Similarly, for removal, a common person cannot file a complaint against a Lokayukta - this power lies with the government in this bill. Therefore, suspension and removal lies with the government. This is against UN convention,” Bhushan said, in his analysis of the legislation.

He also says that the Bihar Lokayukta Act gives all control to the government as the Lokayukta has to take its permission before prosecuting an officer.