North India Statesman
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News India Live, Digital Desk: Congress has raised questions over corruption watchdog Lokpal’s plan to buy expensive cars. The party says that Lokpal is now focusing on his own comforts instead of serving the public. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh even said that Lokpal has now become ‘Shokpal’ and ‘Shockpal’.
What is the matter with expensive vehicles?
According to reports, the Lokpal office has floated a tender to purchase seven luxury BMW 330 Li (Long Wheel Base) vehicles. It is estimated that around Rs 5 crore will be spent on this purchase. Congress has expressed objection regarding this.
Jairam Ramesh raised questions
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed surprise over this purchase and said that when Supreme Court judges also travel in normal sedan cars, then why do the Chairman and members of Lokpal need these expensive BMW cars? He also asked how many cases of corruption has the Lokpal investigated so far and how many arrests have been made?
Congress’s taunt on ‘Shauk Pal’
Taking a dig at the Lokpal, Jairam Ramesh said that this institution has now become a ‘Shauk Pal’, which means that they are busy in fulfilling their desires and hobbies. He reminded how in 2012-13, Anna Hazare and others had together organized a big movement for Lokpal, but today the ground reality looks quite different.
Reaction of other leaders also
Other Congress leaders have also expressed their concern on this issue. Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram also said that what is the need for such expensive vehicles for Lokpal members, especially when there is no such system for Supreme Court judges. He said that this kind of expenditure of public money is not right.
What is the role of Lokpal?
The main function of the Lokpal institution is to investigate allegations of corruption against government officials. It has been formed to investigate cases of corruption against public servants of the Central Government. This institution was established after the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act was passed in 2013.
