By IANS,
Kolkata : Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley Friday said leaders of the United Progressive Alliance and the ruling Congress party should stop intimidating those people who are fighting corruption.
“I firmly believe India needs an ombudsman against corruption which we in popular parlance call a Lok Pal. This Lok Pal must be appointed by an independent mechanism, which after government does its exercise will finally be determined by parliament,” Jaitley told reporters here.
“The government would be advised to contemplate on how to fight corruption and not on how to cover up for corruption,” he added.
“Intimidation of activists involved in this entire movement against corruption and graft and the involvement of senior ruling party politicians does not speak well of the UPA or the government. This kind of the intimidation process either to embarrass the former judge or an activist is completely unfortunate. As opposition member, I am examining this independently,” said Jaitley.
Allegations have been raised against the Lokpal Bill drafting panel joint committee co-chair Shanti Bhushan and his lawyer son and panel member Prashant Bhushan, of wrong-doing in land deals in Noida and Allahabad, which they have vigorously denied.
Jaitley also took a dig at Congress president Sonia Gandhi for earlier saying “we are against smear campaigns”.
“The government needs to more responsive towards corruption. It is no gain we are against smear campaign but then your party activist goes on intimidating the activist,” said Jaitley.