M A I N   N E W S

Lokpal panel: BJP opposes PM’s choice
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 4
The appointment of the fifth member of the selection committee for India’s first Lokpal has set off another political confrontation between the Congress-led UPA and principal opposition BJP. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has objected to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s choice of an eminent jurist, in this case senior Supreme Court advocate PP Rao, for the panel that will select the national anti-corruption ombudsman.

Sushma has sought an appointment with President Pranab Mukherjee to lodge a formal protest in this regard. “The first experience (of the Lokpal selection process) shows the mindset (of the Congress party). They want to pack it with their loyalists and make it a captive body. Now it is 3:1 later it will be 4:1. The President is yet to approve the name selected without consensus and I have asked for a meeting with him,” the senior BJP leader said, explaining the position she took at a meeting held on Monday to finalise the “fifth name” of the selection panel for the Lokpal. Sushma said whereas the PM, Speaker Meira Kumar and SC judge HL Dattu agreed on Rao, she said the meeting be deferred so that either the panel could be enlarged or unanimity achieved.

Sushma’s objection

• Sushma has objected to PM’s choice of eminent jurist PP Rao for the panel that will select the national anti-corruption ombudsman
• Her plea is that Rao is identified with the Congress
• She says his name seems pre-decided
• Sushma says since the country is appointing Lokpal after 40 years there should be unanimity
• The BJP leader has sought an appointment with the President to lodge a formal protest