By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The anti-graft body consisting of several NGOs has reiterated its demand for a strong and effective Lokayukta in the State to tackle the menace of corruption.
The Meghalaya Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2013 which was passed in the Assembly on Thursday last will be brought back to the House again for debate and further amendment, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma had said.
However, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said on Saturday that the new bill should be tabled in the Assembly only after consultation with the people.
It may be mentioned that the Government had hurriedly passed a defective Meghalaya Lokayukta Bill, 2012 in December last year but the Governor did not give his assent to it for want of certain amendments.
Freedom Project member Angela Rangad said that the amendments as suggested by the Governor were adopted in the House but defects still exist in the Bill.
Mait Shaprang Movement convener Michael Syiem said that that NGOs will wait and watch on whether the assurances given by the Chief Minister to further amend the Bill becomes a reality.
Another RTI activist Tarun Bhartiya felt that the Government could have made the required amendments within this session of the Assembly even as he alleged that the bureaucrats are the stumbling blocks to a strong Lokayukta.
