Uttarakhand's new Lokayukta Act to copy UPA's Lok Pal Bill

Under attack from BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Monday said the new lokayukta act in the hill state would be in shape of the Lok Pal Bill piloted by the centre instead of the one brought by the previous BJP regime.

“We are going to implement the Lok Pal Bill in Uttarakhand. This is the bill which has been kept in the Rajya Sabha and has already got support from both Anna Hazare and BJP,” said the chief minister a day after Modi mocked Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to muster support for the Lok Pal bill saying the Lokayukta Act brought by the previous BJP government was not being implemented in Uttarakhand.

In a rebuttal, Bahuguna said if Modi likes  the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act so much then he should implement it in Gujarat. Bahuguna also made it clear that the new lokayukta act would bring the office of chief minister under its ambit. “I am making it clear that the new Lokayukta Act will bring the office of chief minister in its ambit. There is no uneasiness in this,” said Bahuguna.

In this regard, the chief minister said he would hold talks on the new lokayukta with Congress legislators, allies and the opposition. “We have time till February 28 to implement the Lokayukta Act (after the assent of President Pranab Mukherjeee in September to the lokayukta act). I think before February 28, we will implement the new Lokayukta,” he said.  

Despite getting the presidential assent, the future of Uttarkahand’s controversial new Lokayukta Act against corruption had hit roadblock with the state government saying it will review it and described it as “unconstitutional” due to certain provisions including that of bringing judiciary in its ambit.