Gujarat part of Arun Jaitley’s speech on Lokpal bill in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, 29 December 2011

Congress MP in Rajya Sabha elected from Gujarat Shri Praveen Rashtrapal today interrupted leader of opposition Shri Arun Jaitley’s speech over Gujara Lokayukta row, seeking Jaitley’s answer on the issue. Rashtrapal and other Congress MPs tried to interrupt Shri Jaitley’s speech for some time on this issue even after repeated requests by the Chairman of Rajya Sabha to sit down and resume their place. At one juncture, BJP leader SS Ahluwalia advised Rashtrapal and others that they must raise that question in Ahmedabad, and not here(in parliament in Delhi).However Arun Jaitley pleasantly answered Rashtrapal on Gujarat Lokayukta row and made him and other Congress MPs speechless.

Shri Jaitley said, ” it is good that this question(on Gujarat) has been raised. All should be satisfied to learn that the point is that the procedure of appointment should be fare in itself, and any person or any position should not control it.”

“What happened in the state whose example was given here was that, when with all recommendation, including the recommendation of leader of opposition and that of the Chief Justice, when the state government sent a name, the governor didn’t notify it for four years,” Jaitley said and told the Congress MPs not to make interruption on an issue that deserves too many answers.

Jaitley further said, “In second phase when names were sent, then it was acknowledged that the Governor had made an appointment without Chief Minister’s recommendation.”

After some interruption, the Chairman of the house asked the MPs not not deviate from ths subject.

Shri Jaitley further said, “the manner in which the Raj Bhavan subverted the appointment for years is itself a good case why we must have an institutional mechanism not controlled by the Government. Most of us, conceptually and ideologically, have been supporters of social justice and affirmative action.”