The Hindu : National : Right to recall will be deterrent: CPI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005

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National

Right to recall will be deterrent: CPI

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Calling for national crusade against corruption and installing a foolproof monitoring system to look into complaints of and malpractices by Members of Parliament, the Communist Party of India on Tuesday offered suggestions, including the `right to recall' by the voters.

Seeking to initiate a public debate on corruption in the wake of the cash-for-questions episode, the CPI MPs said Parliament should make laws prohibiting MPs from taking any benefit in cash or kind. Hospitality both within the country and overseas should be in the knowledge of the Speaker or an authority designated for the purpose by him.

CPI Lok Sabha leader Gurudas Dasgupta told reporters that Parliament should pass the Lok Pal Bill and bring under its ambit all offices except that of the President. The Chief Justice of India could consider the question of looking into the complaints of corruption against the judiciary.

The Election Commission should debar people with questionable antecedents and criminal background from contesting elections. The Speakers of State Assemblies, in consultation with the Lok Sabha Speaker, should evolve an effective machinery to curb the influence of corruption and money power on elected representatives.

Mr. Dasgupta said the Vigilance Commission should be strengthened at all levels. The Central Bureau of Investigation should be free from all political interference.

Besides Mr. Dasgupta, party MPs S. Sudhakar Reddy and Ajoy Chakraborty were also present at the press conference. In a joint statement, the MPs said what was shown was only a fragment of truth than what was not shown. "Novices were caught while professionals are still scot-free,'' he said.

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