By IANS,
Kolkata : Former Lokayukta of West Bengal Justice Samaresh Banerjea has demanded suitable amendment in the West Bengal Lokayukta Act and urged people to carry forward the Anna Hazare movement.
Banerjea, who is the chairman of rights group People’s Forum for Peace and democracy, said at a conference here: “Our duty does not end only with congratulating Anna Hazare. Don’t we need a comprehensive anti-corruption machinery in our state?”
“We do need a strong law, only then can the Lokayukta perform efficiently,” Banerjea said Thursday.
“Lokayukta is the only institution which can combat corruption and check abuse and misuse of power. The resonance of the Hazare movement needs to be amplified in our state.”
Veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare caught the imagination of the nation when he sat on a fast-unto-death for a stringent anti-corruption law April 5. The reformer broke his 97-hour fast after the government agreed to most of his demands.
“We call upon the people, including the civil society and the political parties whether in power or not to come forward for creating a strong, vibrant and meaningful institution of Lokayukta by amending the existing act of 2003,” said Banerjea who has been the only Lokayukta in the state.
Banerjea also made his disappointment known on the failure of political parties to include provisions for a strong Lokayukta in their manifestos.
“Do any of the party manifestos contain anything regarding Lokayukta? We keep blaming the government. What about the opposition? Why are they sleeping?” asked Banerjea.
“Whichever party comes to power and whoever becomes the chief minister will have to amend the existing Lokayukta Act, giving adequate powers to the Lokayukta. This is not my request but a demand,” added Banerjea.
Banerjea also proposed to hold a workshop April 20-21 to demand enactment of provisions for bringing public servants and bureaucrats under the ambit of the Lokayukta, making mandatory provisions for providing the Lokayukta with an independent investigating agency and ensuring proportionate civil society representation in the committee to be formed for drafting the amending act.
On his stint as the Lokayukta, Banerjea said: “I had to face tremendous bureaucratic interference when I was in the office. I had received complaints against leaders of not only the ruling party but those of the parties in the opposition also.”