Govt's Lok Pal Bill can lead to constitutional havoc: Jaitley

Opposition today slammed the Lok Pal Bill saying it would lead to "constitutional havoc" as the Centre would be encouraged to "usurp" rights of states through the provision of setting up of Lokayuktas.

Initiating the debate in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley also opposed minority quota in the Lok Pal bench, inclusion of NGOs and keeping CBI out of the purview of the ombudsman.

"If you are creating history, let us not create bad history. We will be leaving a lot of task for the next generation to do," he said.

He made it clear the the BJP would not support the Bill in the present form. "Please accept amendments that the colleagues have moved," he said.

Going clause-by-clause in the Lok Pal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, Jaitley said the ombudsman was "designed to be vulnerable to constitutional challenge. Let us create an institution which is constitutionally possible."

Referring to the provision on the setting up of Lokayuktas in the state, the BJP leader and noted lawyer said it would lead to creating "a grey area" by which the Centre can usurp powers of states. "Why are you creating a constitutional havoc? The government is trying to make constitutional cocktail," he said.

Jaitley said the government wants to subvert an institution even before its creation. "You want to kill it in the womb," he alleged.

"You wanted to create a phoney Lok Pal and create a smokescreen that you are giving a constitutional status," he said taking a jibe at the proposal that was included at the instance of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.