Govt keen on passing 3 anti-graft bills this session

We will pursue these bills in the coming session on November 26, said Jitendra Singh

The government is keen on getting three crucial anti-corruption bills - Whistleblowers' Protection, amendment in Prevention of Corruption Act and Lokpal - passed in the upcoming session of Parliament starting November 26.

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh today said while the Lokpal Bill is pending with the Select Committee the government had consecutively listed the bill for amendment in Prevention of Corruption Act for seven days in Rajya Sabha during last session, but it could not be taken up.

"I will not go into the reasons of it but what I am trying to say is thwe will pursue these bills in the coming session on November 26at we have not lagged behind. We have nothing to hide and ," Singh said.

The Minister said while fighting corruption, government intends that it does not cause "unwarranted intimidation" of officials.

He said through amendment in Prevention of Corruption Act, government wants to introduce safeguards for officials at all levels.

"We will act but act judiciously," he said.

Speaking at the valedictory function of 21st annual conference of CBI and Anti-Corruption Bureaux here today, Singh said government aims to complete the CCTNS by March 2017 which was initiated in 2009 but not much headway was made during the last six years for whatever reasons.

"What had not happened in last six years, government had resolved to do it in one and a half years," he said.

The Minister said government is committed to maintain independence and autonomy of CBI to ensure that an environment can be provided to the agency where it can work with its full potential.

"We are here as facilitators of the professionals not intimidators of the professionals," he said.

Later, speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the functions, he said, "We expect the Select Committee to furnish its reports as soon as possible so that we can move ahead with the Lokpal Bill."

On the recent comment of Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed on the religion of Chhota Rajan and Anup Chetia, Singh said terrorism has no religion.

"A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist. Chhota Rajan case has been handed over to the CBI. The CBI under the present government enjoys absolute independence and liberty to function in the most professional manner. We should not attach motives," he said.

On ISIS, the Minister said the right authority to answer will be Home Ministry but added that the government is in cognisance of the entire sequence of events. We are prepared to face any kind of eventuality.