By IANS,
Panaji : Goa’s ruling BJP Tuesday promised a rethink on a controversial amendment to the Lokayukta law fixing a Rs.1 million fine for false complaints, admitting that public outcry against the provision needed to be heeded.
“Considering the public opinion on the fine issue, we will speak to the government to give it a rethink,” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Narendra Savoikar said at a press conference here.
The amendment called for a fine of up to Rs.1 million (Rs.10 lakh) for making false and frivolous complaints to the Lokayukta.
The party has, however, refused to re-look other controversial amendments to the Lokayukta law which have been called draconian by civil society activists.
These, passed by the state assembly last week, allow for declarations of the Lokayukta to lapse if the Chief Minister’s Office does not take its cognizance in three months. Another allows ministers indicted for corruption to stay in their posts instead of making their resignation mandatory.
“The other amendments are in the best interests of the state and there is no question of a rethink on them,” Savoikar said.