Here are the highlights of what BJP's Arun Jaitley said during the Lokpal Bill debate in Rajya Sabha:
•We don't want a weak and hollow law. We will oppose this with fervor. We are here today with the hope that the government's weak bill will be rejected by this House. But this House should also not leave today without delivering a strong law. So let us accept amendments suggested by other parties, if they make this law stronger. Let us show we can deliver an effective law. Parliament and politics both have great power and strength. We decide the laws of the country.
•So what we pass today has to reflect whether our law collides with history, or makes history.
•There is a sense of the House but there is also a sense of the nation. And the people are looking to us for a strong law. We are being tested - can we rise to the occasion?
•Political funding in the world's biggest democracy- there are many doubts about this.
•Legal architecture is strong. Our laws are strong. Investigative machinery and organizations are subject to government pressure. So the reforms needed are strong...can this be brought by a half-hearted legislation? And I regret to say this is a half-hearted legislation.
•Who wants a weak law, and who wants a strong one will be judged by the public. And it will not forgive whoever lets it down. This is not a test for just government or you. This is a test of every section, every party here. Your (govt) allies - they are also being tested. Are they only willing to proclaim or are they willing to strike (for a tough law)?
•Govt's politics was totally transparent. To create a smokescreen -that we are talking to civil society reps. You wanted to create a phony Lokpal and create a smokescreen that we are giving it constitutional status. You wanted to make it a toy and then say it's a constitutional authority. Country does not need this sort of Lokpal. This is what you described as a game-changer (dig at Rahul Gandhi). Game-changers are made with such phony institutions.
•Ensure that you do not impede upon the rights of governments to form their own laws. Assure us that the autonomy of the states will be protected. Federalism and anti-corruption laws can co-exist.
•Who will select the Lokpal - the government will have max clout. You have a long history of trying to control these institutions.
•Three of the five people to select Lokpal will be chosen by the government. And who will remove the members of the Lokpal? As a citizen, I don't have the right to do this. I'll have to approach the government and then the government can approach the Supreme Court. So if Lokpal is biased in favour of government, the beneficiary of that bias will decide on the future of that Lokpal. You will appoint Lokpal and you will control the removal procedure. You are creating an institution where you control appointment and removal mechanism. Change this procedure immediately and we will support you.
•In the work of the investigating agency (CBI), nobody can interfere - neither Lokpal nor government. Process of investigation is so complicated - somebody said on television it's like a "jalebi." Criminal investigations are not done by such a round-robin. Whoever created this mechanism is completely ignorant of how criminal investigations are done. Why are you creating an impossible mechanism? Even CBI says this is unworkable...Anna's colleagues say so...we are all saying it. But you have some sense of prestige that you want to create this mechanism because you have said so. This requires a serious change.
•CBI - investigation functions have to be performed independently. Appointment of CBI Director should be done with arm's length. At least spare the CBI your predisposition for control. Like you have kept the right to suspend the Lokpal, at least don't keep the right to transfer officials who may be carrying out investigations you don't approve of.
•Politicians have to be big-hearted. Your attempt to bring civil society groups, NGOs under Lokpal is a "revenge provision." These are not public servants.
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