Won't allow Jan Lokpal Bill to be tabled in Assembly: Congress

Delhi Congress today said it will not allow the Jan Lokpal Bill to be tabled in Delhi Assembly unless the AAP government first obtained the necessary, constitutionally-mandated approval for it from the Centre.

"We have told Lt Governor Najeeb Jung that Congress MLAs support the Jan Lokpal Bill. If the Delhi government wants a stricter version (of the Bill), still we will support it.

"Our objection is that the provisions of the Constitution regarding the obtaining of prior approval from the Centre and LG are not being followed," said Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely.

A delegation of Delhi Congress members, led by Singh and CLP leader Haroon Yusuf, today met the LG over the issue and submitted a memorandum to him.

Congress gives outside support to the Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government in Delhi.

Raising doubts as to the intentions of the AAP government regarding the Bill, Singh said, "We feel that this government doesn't want to translate the Jan Lokpal Bill into law. Had they seriously wanted the Bill to be passed in the Assembly, they would have completed the necessary formalities."

Congress has requested the LG to stop the AAP government from going forward with its unconstitutional methods, Singh said, adding that, "NCD Act, Section 9, empowers the LG to direct the Assembly and Delhi government against engaging in unconstitutional acts".

Congress later said in a release that the LG had assured that he would look into the issue.

Meanwhile, asked if the party would consider withdrawing its support to the government, Singh said they want to give ample time to the AAP dispensation so that it may fulfil its promises.

"We gave support on the basis of what they had promised. We want to give them (AAP) ample time as the people voted for the party wishing that they stand by their promises," Singh said.