Dear
friends
During
week-long Anti-corruption Campaign organised
by Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan in 23 districts of Odisha from 1st
to 7th April 2017, we have undertaken signature campaign to build up public opinion and generate public demand for immediate
constitution of Lokpal at Centre.
Hundreds of the people joining in our campaign have supported our drive
by signing memorandum addressed to Prime
Minister, India for constitution of
Lokayukta at centre. This memorandum has
already been despatched to Prime
Minister’ office on 24.4.17. The text of
Memorandum is presented below for
Readers’ reference.
Regards
Pradip
Pradhan
State
Convener
M-9937843482
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Memorandum
to Shri Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India for convening the meeting of
Lokpal Selection Committee for long awaited institution of Lokpal at Centre
To
Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, New
Delhi
SUB: Request for convening the Meeting
of Lokpal Selection Committee for instituting of long awaited Lokpal at the
Centre
Dear Prime Minister,
We, the
following signatories, joining in
Anti-Corruption Campaign Organized by Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan through
out the State from 1st April to 7th April, 2017 bring to
your kind notice the following matter seeking your judicious action.
Well aware as you are, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act
2013, the premier anticorruption law which provides for setting up watchdog bodies
like Lokpal at Centre and Lokayuktas in States, was enacted by Parliament in
response to a strident country-wide people’s movement that demanded the
institution of such bodies forthwith to free the nation from an all-pervasive
menace of corruption. The Act was duly notified in Official Gazette on 1st
January 2014 and had come into force on 16th January 2014.
Thereafter the series of Rules concerning Lokpal Selection Committee and Search
Committee and also Disclosure of Assets and Liabilities by Public Servants have
also been made and are in place. But, it is a matter of great anguish that the
people of the country feel utterly shocked and betrayed for the glaring failure
of the present Government at Centre to set up Lokpal despite a long lapse of
more than 3 years from the enforcement of the Act and Rules.
Moreover, in absence of a Lokpal at the Centre and
taking this excuse, different State Governments including Odisha who had passed
their respective Lokayukta Bills albeit in a haphazard manner, have been
showing their reluctance to go ahead for setting up Lokayuktas after effecting
proper amendment to the hurriedly passed defective Bills. Thus, the institution
of Lokayuktas in States does also decisively depend on the institution of
Lokpal at Centre.
As you know too well, it is none else than the Prime
Minister himself who is the prime mover to set the entire process of
instituting of Lokpal at the Centre into motion, since he happens to be the ex-officio
Chairman of Lokpal Selection Committee. But, to the best of our knowledge, the
PM has not called any single meeting of this august Committee till date,
letting thereby the whole issue of instituting Lokpal at Centre hang fire, to
the utter surprise and anguish of the whole nation who had wholeheartedly
fought for it in not too distant past.
You are therefore earnestly requested to initiate
the process of instituting Lokpal at Centre, by calling the meeting of Lokpal
Selection Committee at the earliest, and thereby pave the way for proper
operationalization of Lokayuktas in States across the country.
Signature of the people joined in Anti-corruption Campaign organised
by OSAA in 23 districts of Odisha
