Draft of Bahujan Lokpal Bill Submitted before Standing Committee
- All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations -

New Delhi, 2nd September 2011:

Today, eminent personalities of Dalit, Tribals, Backwards, Minorities and progressive people submitted the draft of Bahujan Lokpal Bill to the chairman, Mr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, at Neeti Bag, New Delhi at 5:30 PM. This bill is being widely supported in the country.

Dr. Udit Raj, National Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organization, led the delegation along with
P. S Krishnan- Former IAS,
Shabnam Hashmi- Anhad,
Vinod Diwakar-Advocate,
Joseph Dsouza,
John Dayal-All India Christian Council,
Prof. Ravi Varma Kumar- Former, Chairman, Karnataka, Backward Commission ,
Yusuf Ansari- Gen. Secy, Peace Party,
Chandrapal Singh - Gen.Secy. Indian Justice Party,
Vinod Kumar- National Treasurer, SC/ST Confederation,
Aziz Burney-Editor, Urdu Sahara,
Ivan Kostaka-Editor, Forward Press,
Ibrahim Qureshi-Ex Minister,
Abraham Mathai-Vice Chairman, MS. Minorities Commission,
Sunil Sardar- President, Satyasodhak Samaj,
Imam Umar Ilayasi- AI Imam Organization,
M R Ghyasi- Convener, Sir Syed Foundation,
Dilip Mandal-Journalist,
Mast Ram Kapoor-Thinker,
Catholic Bishop M S Scaria,
Dr. Mahendra Rana- Gautam Buddha Rural development Institute,
Subba Rao-Advocate,
Hany Babu-Educationalist.

Dr. Udit Raj said that there are differences on certain points about Jan Lokpall Bill and also methodology adopted by Anna Hajare team. Because of composition of Anna Hajare team, Dalits, Tribals, Backwards and Minorities became suspicious and were left with no option except to float their civil society. There was none from these communities in the top rank leadership of Anna team. The Bahujan Lolpal includes media, corporate houses and NGO but at the same time suspicions is created in the mind that why Janlokpal Bill did not incorporate them.

If Janlokpal Bill could have been accepted as it is, the Constitutions could have been undermined. The proceedings of the Parliament should have been also questioned. The peoples representative are susceptible to corruption despite the fact that they are elected by the people and that itself is big check and always threats are looming on them when they again have to seek mandate.

What is the guarantee that Lokpal will remain Honest? In his case, there is no such deterrent check and after all he will be the product of the same society. Corruption in our society is more of social nature than political. The Parliament had acted very sensibly by not including judiciary and inside proceeding of the Parliament. Even if Prime Minister is going to be covered but that will be with rider. At the same time, the Government bill is also not strong enough to curve the corruption. We support the views of Rahul Gandhi when he says that the Lokpla has to be within Constitution. We support the bill of NCPRI prepared by Aruna Roy.

The main demands of Bahujan lok Bill is to give representation to dalits, tribals, backwards and minorities as it is prevalent in Govt. services in the committee of Lokpal . There is rampant corruption in Special Component Plan and Sub Tribal Plan and in other schemes and money staked under these heads are either embezzled, misutilised , diverted and sometimes refunded also. These acts are to be also brought under the ambit of corruption.

This is also to be insured that the inquiry proceeded against dalits, backwards and minorities are to be monitored by Scheduled commission, Scheduled Tribe Commission, Backward Commission ad Minorities commission so that the members of these communities are not discriminated on the basis of caste biasness. And those who violate the reservation policy, they should also be brought under the ambit of Lokpal..

For more information, Please contact:
Abhishek Katiyar
(Media In change)