July 27, 2016
Kalyan Banerjee speaks on The Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Amendment) Bill
Madam, on last Monday in the Business Advisory Committee meeting I said that we need to talk on this and give us time and please do not list it for Tuesday. But the Government said that it was very urgent. We agreed for listing it on Tuesday. But we said we want to have a discussion. We said at that time that we have certain points to raise on this. But we are not getting that opportunity here to discuss it. I can appreciate the urgency.
Hon. Minister, I would like to ask you a question. Is there any concept in the mind of the Government that NGOs should be kept beyond the scope of this Act whether it is running a media house or running an educational institution? Educational institutions have now become commercial. Where is any charity in educational institutions? Only in a very few places there are educational institutions which are doing this charity.
It is alright that the Bill is being passed without discussion. But for the benefit of the country please do not make any attempt to dilute the Act itself. There should not be any dilution. NGOs are also responsible. NGOs are taking money. Simply because an NGO is running a media house and therefore they should be kept beyond the scope of this Act is something which we are opposing.
