DIMAPUR, August 22 (MExN): The Concerned Citizens of India for Social Justice has called upon Indian Government to include the representatives from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Others Backward Class and Minorities in Lokpal consultation. According to a press note from Madhu Chandra of the All India Christian Council, the Government’s version “Lokpal” and Team Anna’s “Jan Lokpal” have short comings and draconian clauses.
“They need to be debated. As concerned citizens belonging to SC/ST/OBC and Minority communities, we think that a Lokpal Bill must propose a Lokpal, consisting representative member from SCs, STs, OBCs and Minority religious communities. The presence of the representative of SC, ST, OBC and minority communities is important because the caste prejudices of the members would work against the weak and vulnerable in the process of their work as public functionaries. Even the members of the Lokpal are subject to such caste and religious prejudices”, stated the press note.
The press note stated that within the Lokpal there should be checks and balances pointing out that in this country “caste and religion is important agencies that aid and abet corruption and also checkmate it”. It is, therefore, important that the Lokpal should have members coming from the SC, ST, OBC and Minority communities to balance it with a principle of social justice, stated the press note.
The Government Bill proposes that the selection committee will consist of 5 members of which 3 will be the Government nominees and 2 will come from the civil society. In effect the Government selects the Lokpal. This method of selection must change, the press note stated.
It was also mentioned that the concerned civil societies, strongly disagree with selection committee recommended by the Government and also Team Anna. “They do not represent SC/ST/OBC and minorities and the bill will be bias to address the corruption based on social and justice. While accepting the conditions of looking at the integrity aspect of individuals being drawn into the Lokpal, the social justice principles must be followed in Lokpal as well as the Selection Committee”.
The press note also stated that the “concerned civil societies strongly object Team Anna’s absolute claim of civil society representing whole nation” and claiming that the “supporters are upper caste, middle class and elites, who do not represent 85% of SC/ST/OBC and minorities”. “Such movement is threat to Indian secularism and democracy”, it stated.
“They need to be debated. As concerned citizens belonging to SC/ST/OBC and Minority communities, we think that a Lokpal Bill must propose a Lokpal, consisting representative member from SCs, STs, OBCs and Minority religious communities. The presence of the representative of SC, ST, OBC and minority communities is important because the caste prejudices of the members would work against the weak and vulnerable in the process of their work as public functionaries. Even the members of the Lokpal are subject to such caste and religious prejudices”, stated the press note.
The press note stated that within the Lokpal there should be checks and balances pointing out that in this country “caste and religion is important agencies that aid and abet corruption and also checkmate it”. It is, therefore, important that the Lokpal should have members coming from the SC, ST, OBC and Minority communities to balance it with a principle of social justice, stated the press note.
The Government Bill proposes that the selection committee will consist of 5 members of which 3 will be the Government nominees and 2 will come from the civil society. In effect the Government selects the Lokpal. This method of selection must change, the press note stated.
It was also mentioned that the concerned civil societies, strongly disagree with selection committee recommended by the Government and also Team Anna. “They do not represent SC/ST/OBC and minorities and the bill will be bias to address the corruption based on social and justice. While accepting the conditions of looking at the integrity aspect of individuals being drawn into the Lokpal, the social justice principles must be followed in Lokpal as well as the Selection Committee”.
The press note also stated that the “concerned civil societies strongly object Team Anna’s absolute claim of civil society representing whole nation” and claiming that the “supporters are upper caste, middle class and elites, who do not represent 85% of SC/ST/OBC and minorities”. “Such movement is threat to Indian secularism and democracy”, it stated.
