Bhushan terms AAP's Lokpal a 'mahajokepal'; party says he should join BJP


New Delhi, Nov 28 (PTI): Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan today accused Arvind Kejriwal of playing the "biggest fraud" on people by diluting the provisions of the Jan Lokpal draft of the Anna movement while Shanti Bhushan demanded the Delhi Chief Minister's resignation.

Bhushan read out certain provisions of the draft Bill, that is yet to be made public by the Delhi government. He claimed that Ministers and officials of the Centre were put under the ambit of the proposed legislation "deliberately" to provoke confrontation.

He said Kejriwal does not like to be questioned like "Modi" so he has chosen not to make the contents of the Bill public.

"No activist or movement in India's history has played such a big fraud with people. This will only ensure that the Central government does not approve and the Bill never gets passed. Kejriwal never had the intention to form a strong Lokpal body," the former AAP leader said.

Dissident AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar, who was also present at the presser at Bhushan's Noida residence, claimed that he had managed to get hold of its copy in his capacity as a member of the Business Advisory Committee.

Bhushan questioned the appointment and removal processes of the Lokpal laid out in the Bill, which was recently cleared by the AAP Cabinet, saying they would put the Ombudsman at the mercy of the city government.

The Bill purportedly says that a four-member selection committee, comprising the Chief Minister, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Delhi High Court Chief Justice would appoint the Lokpal, while the removal can be ensured by a motion in the Assembly with two-thirds majority.

"Even the Centre's Lokpal Act, which has been termed as jokepal by Kejriwal, is stronger than this Bill. This is a 'mahajokepal'. Kejriwal must resign from office," senior Bhushan said.

They said by expanding the jurisdiction of the Lokpal, by proposing to bring Centre under its ambit was uncalled for and aimed at stoking another fight. "In all the draft Lokpals that we have prepared till date, state Lokayuktas are not supposed to have any such powers."

The father-son duo also slammed the alleged provision which stipulates one-year imprisonement for false complaints, which they said will only deter complainants. "So the falsity is to be decided by a sarkari lokpal?" they asked.

"We can now understand why this draft was kept under the wraps. The plan was to pass this maha jokepal Bill and then play victim by claiming that the Centre is obstructing it. Will say nahi karne diya ji," Bhushan said in a mocking tone.

 

Bhushans should join BJP, says AAP after criticism of Janlokpal

Hitting back at Shanti and Prashant Bhushan, AAP today claimed that they were opposing the Janlokpal Bill at the behest of BJP and asserted that the proposed legislation was similar to the one tabled by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his previous 49-day tenure.

Rejecting criticism by Bhushans who termed the anti-graft legislation as 'Maha Jokepal' and alleged that the provisions had been diluted and tweaked to "provoke" the Centre, the ruling party in Delhi said the father-son duo should now join the BJP.

Launching the counter-attack, AAP fielded its spokesperson Raghav Chadha, who had once hosted a Google Hangout on Janlokpal Bill with Prashant's father Shanti Bhushan -- one of the key faces during the Anna movement.

"This is the same bill which was introduced by the AAP government (during its 49-day rule). Prashant ji was fine when the same bill was introduced during the AAP's last government," Chadha said

"Why did he not raise any issue at the time? Now that the BJP is in power, he does not want the Lokpal to investigate the Centre. He should join the BJP and also make public relations between (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley and the Bhushans.

"He should first ask his party (the BJP) to appoint a Lokpal at the Centre" he said, adding that it was (Prashant) Bhushan who had pushed for registering an anti-corruption case with the Delhi ACB against the then Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani.

AAP's Delhi unit secretary Saurabh Bharadwaj said by opposing to bring the Centre under Delhi's Lokpal ambit, Bhushan was "batting for the BJP".

Prashant Bhushan and Yogender Yadav---both founder members of the AAP---were sacked for "anti-party activities" after they fell out with the leadership. However, no action was taken against Shanti Bhushan.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh accused Bhushan of "misleading" people over the Janlokpal Bill. Another party leader Ashutosh said, "First he (Bhushan) tried to defeat the AAP at the behest of Arun Jaitley and now he has objections on Lokpal." Meanwhile, Chadha said that the Bill will be tabled in the Assembly on Monday.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Daniel, Mangalore

    Sun, Nov 29 2015

    this is what happens in Politics!!
    if Bhushan is still supports Lokpal then he should use his talents to implement and not to bring down someone...
    AK is thousand times better than any other...as I see VIP culture reduced.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter, Bangalore

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    If Lokpal bill is implemented by central government ,then BJP govt loose majority in parliament because of 27% criminal minister

    DisAgree [10] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    In this age of Google & internet, am amused that you're still spreading mis-construted falsities on this forum, only due to intolerance on Modi & BJP

    Please grow up!

    DisAgree [7] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • krish, Dubai

    Sun, Nov 29 2015

    Dear Peter.
    If because of Lokpal criminals will step down means offcourse i will support the same.
    But one thing i want to draw your notice that Congress will be zero in Parliment.
    Siddarammayya will loose CM seat in 12 lakh pilllow scam.
    and Bihar Mahagatbandhan will become Mahagatiya bandan as majority of MLA are from goonda and corrupt background.

    still i support Lokpal if there is any benifit to country.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • JK, Udupi

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    This Kejriwal is an opportunist politician. He used Anna as ladder to get to the position where he is now. Now, he has no issue with Lallu's fodder scam, UPA's 10 years of scam or Sonia's Swiss bank stock up.

    DisAgree [22] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Langoolacharya., Belman/Washington,DC.

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    People,

    My BJP friends are worried because if this Lokpal bill is passed...first to go to prison will be Moily/Ambani for gas scam...next perhaps Gadkari for his service to the nation...which BJP cannot tolerate at any cost...that's why my BJP/CONgress friends here are having solid stomach ache...

    Good development...all corrupts joining together in opposing Arvinds Lokpal...

    ...JH...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • V V Gladys Noronha , Kuwait

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    BJP is misusing bhushans and yogendra Yadav against AAP government at Delhi . Instead centre should join hand with Delhis state government to work benefit of the people. Day by day Kejriwals popularity is increasing which centre is not tolerating

    DisAgree [6] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, mangalore

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    Gladys, how you can say that..YADAV/BHUSHANs & their NGOs worked hard to defeat BJP in BIHAR..and they are doing it in UP also,ist not secret..YADAV/BHUSHANs thrown out from AAP along with many others,its their internal matter..if KEJRI is serious he should focus on state not Center or other state..He flown to BIHAR, He flown to WB/ASSAM..so there will be confrontation with BJP, its natural..How can central Govt allow its employees to prosecute under state LOKPAL!!..forget NDA, UPA also wont allow this..so this LOKPAL will become junk..its just a bill to fight with central Govt till next election..

    DisAgree [10] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • MASTHAN , DUB

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    ANNA KEJRI AND BEDI WAS FIGHTING HARD FOR LOKPAL BILL. BJP DIDNT SUPPORT IT.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • MASTHAN , DUB

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    JEALOUSY IS NOT GOOD.

    SHAKUNI MAMA

    DisAgree [4] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri, Karkala

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    Anna Hazare team was a bunch of jokers except him. Media gave more publicity only to damage maun Mohan Singh govt. Ibbara jagala moorane yavanige laba!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter, Bangalore

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    We should appreciate efforts of AAP.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Udupi

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    jokers will be jokers... first hug lalu, now with jokepal..

    DisAgree [11] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan, Mangaluru

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    Entire Anna band was raised to create sentiments against UPA. It was a great strategy success, except for kejri. There is no corruption today - tom tom's BJP. Entire India is asking, what happened to congress corruption?
    If BJP does not get back the 1.76lakh crore, 1.86lakh crore, 70k crore all termed as loot, it must be accepted that BJP has defeated Indians, for trusting them, Anna and media. Entire team then must apologize to the nation for mis-leading them for greed of power.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    He is still howling after getting KICKED OUT ...

    DisAgree [8] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ksmu , Mangalore

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    Bhushanji, kitne me bikhe ho, daku se kam mat lena, bahut mehengaee hai!!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • MASTHAN, DUB

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    HE WANTS TO MAKE A NEW PARTY AAP2

    DisAgree [3] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, mangalore

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    Its true, but he has point..can KUJLI pass this LOKPAL..its a big NO..How can state will be allowed to cover central Govt employees in state LOKAYUKTA!!..even central Govt employees union will start a strike..KUJLI knows this very well & he want to blame MODI..we had a powerful Lokayukta (congress ruined it, its different story), it didnt include central Govt employees..

    DisAgree [12] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    AAP came to power riding on power to people by Lokpal. However, after 11 months, they come out with a very diluted pale shadow 'Jokepal'!

    No wonder 6 MLA's of AAP are in Jail on various charges

    DisAgree [26] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, mangalore

    Sat, Nov 28 2015

    ..Its not going to pass..as BHUSHAN's said KUJLI purposely added Central Govt employees in state Lokpal juridiction to start a confrontation with center & blame MODI saying he is not allowing to pass it..In Karnataka we had best Lokayukta with good officers, it covered state Govt employees/Ministers only..KUJLI is CM why he is acting PM..He cant fool people every time..The day media stops backing him, he will collapse..

    DisAgree [22] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse


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