‘Will go to any extent over Jan Lokpal Bill’

Stressing his commitment to the Jan Lokpal Bill (Delhi Lokayukta Bill), Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday vowed to go to ‘any extent’ for this anti-graft legislation. The chief minister also indicated that he is more concerned about the bill than running his government.

‘Corruption is an extremely important issue and I will go to any extent (to end it),’ said Kejriwal. Asked if he would resign on the issue, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said he could go to any extent over the ‘huge’ issue of corruption.’ That (resignation) you interpret,’ he added. Asserting that both the Congress and the BJP will never allow the passage of the bill, Kejriwal said since the government has decided to probe the alleged corruption in Commonwealth Games projects, the Congress’ ‘pitch’ has become more ‘shrill’ in this regard and also there are allegations against the BJP, which is in power in the MCD for the past seven years.

Kejriwal attributed the recent controversy on the bill to the fear among city politicians cutting across party line. ‘They (Congress) realise that if there is a strong Lokpal then many of these people will get into trouble. For seven years the BJP is in power in the MCD and they may also get into trouble. If the bill is passed then all these CWG cases will go to Lokpal,’ he added. He said he has written to the union home ministry to withdraw its order issued in 2002 which directs the Delhi government to take approval of the ministry before passage of any bill in the assembly and asserted that the city government cannot follow these ‘unconstitutional rules.’ He said the bill is within the preview of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the chief minister along with the officers of all departments and his advisers discussed the draft of the Nagar Swaraj Bill. ‘All departments have presented their views in the meeting and it is being accommodated to finalise the draft bill,’ said SC Behar, the man behind the draft Nagar Swaraj Bill.