Mumbai: The institution of Lokayukta in Maharashtra should be an autonomous body like the Election Commission and free from government interference, anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare said here on Thursday.
“Corruption is on the rise. It has become difficult for the common man to survive due to price rise…Setting up of Lokayukta would help curtail corruption. It should be an autonomous body like the Election Commission, High Court and Supreme Court and there should be no government interference,” he told reporters after meeting Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray here. Hazare is in Mumbai to meet political leaders to muster support for a strong Lokayukta legislation in the state.
“Raj has expressed his willingness to support a strong and effective Lokayukta in Maharashtra,” Hazare said. He lauded Raj for initiatives like conducting examination for party candidates to contest the civic body polls, held in February. He expressed confidence that 60-65 per cent corrupt activities would be curtailed because of the Lokayukta. The veteran social activist also reiterated his demand for the ‘Right to Reject’ a candidate during elections.
If people do not like a particular candidate there should be an option of Right to Reject, which would pave way for re-elections and purity in politics, he said.
On reports that Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has refused to meet him, Hazare said, “If he is not meeting me, it will not affect me. I am not meeting him for my selfish interest. I am meeting him as the issue (Lokayukta) is important for the state.” Contribution and support of all political parties is needed to bring in a strong Lokayukta legislation, he said.
Terming all politicians as “bad” is not justifiable, he said.
Raj said he supports a strong Lokayukta to check corruption.
“I support a strong Lokayukta in the state. Otherwise, it will be difficult to stop corruption,” he said. Hazare should pay more attention in the state rather than at the national level, Raj said.
“Most parts of western Maharashtra are facing drought and therefore, I asked him to pay more attention here. The situation in the state is very bad. Politicians from western Maharashtra have failed in tackling drought in their region,” the MNS head said.
The chief minister should also be brought under the ambit of Lokayukta, he said. In an apparent reference to Hazare meeting other political leaders on Lokayukta, he said, “What is the use of meeting dacoits to reduce dacoity.”
Even the Maharashtra government on Thursday said it is conducting comparative studies of Lokayukta Acts of various states and would take a decision on enacting the same only if its provisions are not included in the Centre’s Lokpal Bill.
“I feel that the Lokayukta aspect will not be included in the Lokpal Bill. I had written to Centre to enact a model law of Lokayukta so that all states can adopt their own act as per the model law,” Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told a press conference after an hour-long meeting with anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare. He said the Centre was favourable to this proposal and the Lokpal Bill was likely to be passed in the current session of Parliament. The chief minister said he would discuss the issue with the union law minister during his next visit to Delhi. (PTI)