Individual dictates must not weaken democratic process: Rahul

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) Disapproving of Anna Hazare's
hunger strike, Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
Friday said democratic processes should not be weakened by
"individual dictates" which could set dangerous precedent and
rejected the belief that Lokpal alone would eradicate
corruption.
Breaking his silence, he said a political will and a
comprehensive framework would be required to fight the menace
and suggested a "game changing idea" of creating a
Constitutional institution of Lokpal like the Election
Commission accountable to Indian Parliament.
Gandhi, speaking during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha (lower
house of Indian parliament), agreed that "corruption is
pervasive" which operates at "every level" but warned that
there was a "risk" that an unaccountable Lokpal "might itself
become corrupt".
Referring to the anti-corruption campaign of Hazare, he
said it has "helped the people to articulate" their
disillusionment and "I thank him for that".
At the same time, he warned "individual dictates, no
matter how well-intentioned, must not weaken the democratic
process. A tactical incursion, divorced from the machinery of
an elected government that seeks to undo the checks and
balances created to protect the supremacy of Parliament sets a
dangerous precedent for a democracy.
"Today, the proposed law is against corruption. Tomorrow,
the target may be something less universally heralded. It may
attack the plurality of our society and democracy."
As his sister Priyanka watched from the visitors' gallery,
Gandhi's speech was disrupted by National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) members, protesting against his making a statement on
the issue during Zero Hour.
This triggered heated exchanges with Congress members
shouting back. Speaker Meira Kumar ruled that she had allowed
Gandhi to speak, after which he continued his speech.
"Witnessing the events of the last few days, it would
appear that the enactment of a single bill will usher in a
corruption-free society. I have serious doubts about this
belief," Gandhi said, adding an effective Lokpal "is only one
element in the legal framework to combat corruption."
He maintained that "Lokpal institution alone cannot be a
substitute for a comprehensive anti-corruption code. A set of
effective laws is required.
"We speak of a statutory Lokpal but our discussion cease
at the point of its accountability to the people and the risk
that it might itself become corrupt," the Congress General
Secretary told the packed House with Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh being among those in attendance.
"Why not elevate the debate and fortify the Lokpal by
making it a Constitutional body accountable to Parliament like
the Election Commission of India? I feel the time has come for
us to seriously consider this idea," he said.
Gandhi, who left Parliament immediately after his remarks,
told reporters outside the House that his suggestion to
elevate Lokpal to an Election Commission-type body was "a game
changing idea".
Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said the anti-graft fight
required "a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted
political programme supported by all levels of the State from
the highest to the lowest. Most importantly, it requires firm
political will."
He said the fight against corruption required "a
comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political
programme supported by all levels of the State from the
highest to the lowest. Most importantly, it requires firm
political will."
Elaborating on effective laws needed to tackle corruption,
the Congress leader said the critical issues which were
necessary to stand alongside the Lokpal included government
funding of elections and political parties.
The other issues were transparency in public procurement,
proper regulation of sectors that fuel corruption like land
and mining, grievance redress mechanisms in public service
delivery of old age pensions and ration cards and continued
tax reforms to end tax evasion, he said.
"We owe it to the people of this country to work together
across party lines to ensure that Parliament functions at its
optimum capacity and delivers these laws in a just and
time-bound manner," Gandhi said.
Noting that laws and institutions were "not enough", he
said "a representative, inclusive and accessible democracy is
central to fighting corruption."
Observing that individuals have brought great gains to the
country and galvanised people in the cause of freedom and
development, he said the faith in democracy was shared by
members of the House.
"I know that regardless of their political affiliation,
many of my colleagues work tirelessly to realise the ideals
upon which our nation was built. The pursuit of truth is the
greatest of those ideals. It won us freedom. It gave us
democracy," Gandhi said, appealing to the members to "commit
ourselves to truth and probity in public life. We owe it the
people of India."