Yechury calls for inclusion of India Inc under Lokpal

New Delhi, Dec 29 (ANI): Urging the government not to enact a law against the interest of states, Communist Party of India (Marxist) lawmaker Sitaram Yechury on Thursday accused the corporates of funding elections, and said that the graft cannot be tackled without including India Inc under the review of Lokpal.

Participating in a debate on Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha here today, Yechury said: "Do not enact law against interest of states. We cannot tackle graft without including India Inc under review of Lokpal. The corporates fund elections."

Stating that the matter surrounding the anti-graft bill had become very serious, Yechury making his party's stand clear said: "We had agreed on Citizen's Charter, lower bureaucracy and Lokayuktas for state in the discussion in August. We gave this assurance to the country."

The CPI-M veteran further said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should be freed from government control.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, already passed by Lok Sabha, was moved for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy.

The government's version of the Lokpal Bill, which was passed with a voice vote in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, has reportedly divided the key constituents of ruling UPA alliance.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by Mamata Banerjee is unhappy with the certain provisions and the language of the Lokpal Bill that aims to curb corruption in public life.

With the TMC becoming firm on two amendments, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has now become a game changer.

She has made it clear that her party will demand a vote on two amendments it has sought to the Lokpal Bill, which is being debated now in the Rajya Sabha.

Of the two amendments put in by the TMC, one asks for a change to the name of the Bill, which refers to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas. The other asks for the entire reference to Lokayuktas to be dropped from the Bill.

If the TMC amendments win, the Lokpal Bill will go back to the Lok Sabha. (ANI)