'Egoistic' Govt. doesn't want Lokpal: Anna Hazare

Ralegan Siddhi (Maharashtra) [India], Apr 27 (ANI): Accusing the BJP-led government of being apathetic to the issue of appointing Lokpal, social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday said it is clearly the 'ego' of the government that is not appointing the Act even after the Supreme Court's direction. "I think there is a chance of 'ego' in the government. Otherwise I have written so many letters nothing happened. The Supreme Court has also given so many directions still nothing is happening. It is clearly the ego of the government that they ate not appointing the Lokpal," Hazare told ANI. "The Supreme Court had said this before also. But the Center was delaying. It is a disrespecting for the public. They are blaming the opposition. For implementing Lokpal opposition is not needed. This means that the government is not willing to implement Lokpal. The government thinks that that nothing will happen to them so why do they have to think about it," he added. The apex court earlier in the day asked the Central Government to implement the Lokpal Act, while saying that there is no justification for holding it in abeyance. The apex court passed the judgment while hearing a plea filed by an NGO, Common Cause. The apex court had earlier slammed the Central government for not appointing the Lokpal in an expeditious manner. Appearing for the NGO, Common Cause, senior apex court lawyer and former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan had argued that that though the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, received Presidential assent on January 1, 2014, and came into force from January 16, 2014, Lokpal is not being appointed by the Central government deliberately. Earlier this month, Congress leader K.C. Venugopal filed a privilege notice against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, accusing him of misguiding on the Lokpal bill that is pending with the standing committee in the Lok Sabha. Earlier on March 23, the opposition unleashed a stinging attack on the government over the delay in appointment of the Lokpal, a day after it informed the Supreme Court that the anti-corruption ombudsman cannot be appointed without amending a law. However, Jaitley intervened and said the required amendment in the law was being considered by the parliamentary standing committee concerned. (ANI)