Jealous politicos to blame for Lok Ayukta bill delay: Rane

PANJIM, NOV 16 
Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Pratapsingh Rane today said that ‘jealousy and worries’ of few politicians and bureaucrats have inordinately delayed the actual execution of Lok Ayukta Bill.
“At least two bills tabled by me are pending although they were passed by the House. The reason is that some people including bureaucrats and some politicians are jealous,” Rane said in the function held to mark 150 years of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
Speaking to Herald on the sidelines of the function, the Speaker elaborated that though the Lok Ayukta Bill was passed in 2007, some people are trying to ‘kill it’ delaying its actual formation.
“Right from chief minister to speaker, ministers, legislators and bureaucrats will come under the scrutiny after the Bill is enforced as one has to declare finances or assets,” he said adding that we are using public funds and utmost transparency is required.
“But till date nobody has been appointed to execute the duty. They are trying to kill it,” he commented.
Rane said that some Goa Police Service and Indian Police Service officials are also reluctant to get the Bill in place, which is one of the reasons why the formation is not ensuing.
Earlier, during the function, the senior legislator expressed his opinion that the Central Committee should appoint a qualified CAG who has thorough experience of auditing and accounting functions.
“A committee of Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chairman of PAC should together appoint a qualified CAG,” he said.
CAG in present scene is appointed by the President. He stated that a new Bill in the Parliament is being introduced and if it is kept for public suggestion, he would give his opinion.
“The functioning should be transparent…We need to see governance at the optimum level and funds being properly utilised,” he said.
Rane urged that the department has several backlogs to be completed even as the performance is improving in the past couple of years.
“There should be regular meetings. Backlogs should be cleared. There is too much work, therefore, a sub-committee should be created so that respective legislators can pay surprise visits to departments,” he opined.
He further expressed that he will present his views for the new parliament bill when it comes for public suggestion.