Cong accuses Modi govt of weakening anti-corruption laws
In an effort to challenge the Narendra Modi government’s narrative of providing corruption-free governance, the Congress on Thursday accused the prime minister of “hypocrisy” in fighting corruption. It made public a compilation of alleged scams the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)ruled state governments and its leaders are purportedly embroiled in.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the Modi government was systematically weakening anti-corruption laws made under the Congress-led UPA-I and -II regimes. “We urge the prime minister to stop the sermons and take action against corruption. Start by cleaning up your own house,” Singhvi said.
The Congress spokesperson said the BJP had ridden the wave in support of a strong Lokpal legislation to come to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. “For three years, the nation is asking, 'Where is the Lokpal?’ Why is the PM protecting the corrupt?" he asked. He said the government had diluted the whistleblowers’ protection amendment Bill and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Party sources said the Congress plans to take these issues to the people from now, the end of the monsoon session, to the beginning of the winter session of Parliament in November. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of 18 Opposition parties to discuss the strategy on Friday.
Singhvi said the PM’s “deafening silence” and "lack of action" on numerous irregularities involving the BJP in the states and at the Centre were for all to see, citing the Vyapam, the GSPC and the Lalit Modi issues and the paddy scam.
Congress leader Rajeev Gowda claimed 31 per cent of BJP ministers have criminal cases against them, while 18 per cent of them face serious criminal charges such as attempt to murder, murder, rape, kidnapping and crimes against women.
The Congress also released a White Paper titled “The Systematic Crippling of AntiCorruption Laws by Modi Sarkar” and a state-wise list of the BJP's alleged involvement in scams and criminal cases against its MPs.
The Congress leaders said the Right to Information Act had also been eroded and the introduction of electoral bonds was part of an elaborate scheme to “smother accountability and transparency”.
Singhvi said by employing methods of “coercion, intimidation, misuse of state agencies and money power”, the BJP had “stolen” the mandate of the people in Goa and Manipur while its “corrupt” practices to lure MLAs were foiled in Gujarat recently.