NGOs seek removal of Bhushans from Lokpal drafting panel
April 23rd, 2011 - 6:59 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) A group of non-governmental organisations will hold a rally in the capital Monday to demand removal of Lokpal Bill drafting committee co-chair Shanti Bhushan and son Prashant from the panel following the CD controversy.
Lucknow-based National RTI Forum along with Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS) and some other organisations will hold the protest April 25 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Jantar Mantar, according to organisers.
The rally termed “Anna, Do Justice” has been planned because many civil society activists have sided with Shanti Bhushan and openly defended them in the face of all the serious allegations, Nutan Thakur, convener of National RTI Forum, said.
“We are demanding an independent and swift enquiry against eminent lawyers Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan. We also want them to be kept away from the joint drafting committee as long as they are not given clean chit in the enquiry,” added Thakur.
Thakur said they are not against any individual, but believe that if the very foundation of the drafting of a bill against anti-corruption is based on serious allegations of corrupt practices, then it loses its entire meaning.
“Now that even the government report has come about the CD transcript being true, our demand has acquired all the more importance and relevance,” she said.
Allegations were raised against Shanti Bhushan over a CD containing a purpoted conversation between him and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and then party general secretary Amar Singh over allegedly influencing a judge.
While a government lab authenticated the conversation, a private lab has said it was not genuine.
Both the Bhushans have categorically denied the allegations.
The next meeting of the joint drafting panel, which has five ministers and five representatives of civil society, is slated May 2.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee heads the drafting committee.
- Civil society members guarded on Bhushan controversy - Apr 21, 2011
- CD controversy rages, Bhushans to move apex court (Roundup) - Apr 18, 2011
- CD row: Civil society members back Bhushans - Apr 21, 2011
- Controversy casts shadow on first Lokpal panel meet - Apr 16, 2011
- Bhushans should resign from Lokpal committee: Amar Singh - Apr 21, 2011
- None of us are going to resign: Arvind Kejriwal (Lead) - Apr 21, 2011
- Graft shadow over Lokpal panel; Civil society backs Bhushans (Intro Roundup) - Apr 22, 2011
- CD row: Prashant Bhushan files defamation suit in Supreme Court - Apr 18, 2011
- Lokpal panelists reject resignation demand; PM says bill in July (Roundup) - Apr 21, 2011
- Amar Singh dares Bhushans over controversial CD - Apr 18, 2011
- Amar Singh denies doctoring CD - Apr 18, 2011
- 'Initial' reports say Bhushan CD not tampered: Delhi Police (Lead) - Apr 21, 2011
- PM firm on Lokpal bill as Bhushans fight more taint (Evening Lead) - Apr 21, 2011
- I will answer Bhushan's notice in court: Digvijay Singh - Apr 21, 2011
- Amidst mud-slinging, Lokpal joint committee meets Saturday (Roundup) - Apr 16, 2011
Tags: amar singh, bhushan, civil society activists, clean chit, corrupt practices, drafting committee, eminent lawyers, finance minister, government lab, government report, irds, mantar, mulayam singh yadav, non governmental organisations, party chief, pranab mukherjee, prashant, private lab, Samajwadi Party, serious allegations