Aruna roy have difference of opinion on Lokpal draft

Social activist and National Advisory Council(NAC) Member Aruna Roy today made clear that she and her fellow RTI activists were also having difference of opinion on several points even in the Bill moved by the government in the Lok Sabha. However, she expressed satisfaction over Lok Sabha's move of referring the Bill to the Standing Committee saying that this was part of the procedure which would facilitate individuals and organsiations to incorporate people's voice in the proposed Lokpal Act. Talking to the mediapersons here this afternoon, Magsaysay awardee Ms Roy, said ''I do have differences over several points/provisions proposed in the Jan Lokpal Bill draft and the one moved by the UPA government in Parliament''. ''We want proper discussion and amendments over several points,'' she said, adding she neither favoured generalised inclusion of the Prime Minister in the purview and jurisdiction of the Lokpal as suggested in the Lokpal draft nor did support exemption to the Prime Minister from the purview and jurisdiction of the Lokpal being granted in the government's Bill.
''We want that the Lokpal should be empowered to look and examine complaints against the Prime Minister and if finds prima facie case against him than the complaint should be proceeded further only after securing consent/endorsement from the Supreme Court,'' Ms Roy said. ''Likewise, we also favour inclusion of judiciary in the purview of the Lokpal and want that not only the conduct of the judges but even the standards of the judiciary be monitored by the Lokpal,'' she added. Moreover, why only Central government should be brought under the Lokpal scanner, the same approach be extended to states through a well structured Lokayukta set-up, the NAC member added.