The Hindu : Other States News : Lokpal can't be parallel government, says Sibal

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Lokpal can't be parallel government, says Sibal

Staff Reporter

– PHOTO: Manob Chowdhury

Union Minister Kapil Sibal with Jharkhand PCC chief Pradip Balmuchu addressing a press conference in Ranchi.

RANCHI: A parallel government cannot be allowed to function in the country in the form of a Lokpal, Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference here, he said: “Any government is accountable to its people and Parliament, whereas the Anna Hazare team wants unlimited powers [vested] in the Lokpal, without having any accountability. The Lokpal will not be accountable to anybody.”

“We have set a perfect example of democracy by accepting many demands of the Anna team, like empowering the Lokpal to investigate [corruption] and prosecute, conduct speedy trials and giving it financial powers. We also accepted that the Lokpal should be an independent institution.”

Mr. Sibal alleged that some people were diverting attention from core issues like education and health. Corruption was a national issue and not confined to a particular group.

He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was behind Baba Ramdev's fast against corruption in New Delhi.

Answering a question about bringing back black money stashed away abroad, Mr. Sibal said: “It will take time. We have initiated the process with many countries to share information. We have initiated dialogue with many countries about tax information treaty and we are trying to track the route so that we can easily put a barrier. But we don't have a magic wand. So it requires more time.”

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