Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta feels vindicated on Deletion of Section 14 (F)

The Lok Satta Party today welcomed deletion of Section 14 (F) from the Presidential Order of 1975 concerning recruitment of police personnel in Hyderabad.

The Union Government took the correct decision although belatedly, said Lok Satta Party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and P. Bhaskara Rao in a media statement.

They recalled that the Assembly requested the Union Government to delete the section at the initiative of Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan. He was the first to bat for deletion of the section at an all-party meeting on October 19, 2009. He followed it up by raising the issue with the Speaker and holding talks with other parties. The Assembly finally adopted the resolution on March 18, 2010. Dr. JP wrote to the Prime Minister on August 4, 2011 underlining the urgency for the removal of the section.

Following the deletion of the section, Hyderabad would form part of Zone 6 for police recruitment.

Warning against whipping up regional feelings in the wake of the deletion of the section, the Lok Satta leaders pointed out that police recruitments in Hyderabad took place as per the zonalization scheme during 2001-08 and it caused no hardship to people of any region.

Congratulating all parties and people’s representatives on working together for deletion of the section, the Lok Satta leaders hoped that all problems could be resolved if people display a give and take attitude.

Friday, August 12, 2011 - 18:24

Dr. JP launching Lokpal campaign

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan is undertaking a tour of nine districts in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema from August 13 to 18 to mobilize public opinion on constitution of Lokayuktas in States and ombudsmen in districts as part of the Union Government’s Lokpal Bill.

Giving this information in a media statement, party General Secretary Srinivasa Rao pointed out that the present discussion on the Lokpal Bill all over the country centered on corruption at the national level, whereas States account for 85 percent of the incidence of corruption.

Following is the tour schedule of Dr. JP:

August 13: Visakhapatnam, Gajuwaka, and Anakapalle

August 14: Rajahmundry, Tadepalligudem, and Eluru

August 15: Vijayawada, Guntur, and Chilakaluripet

August 16: Chirala, Ongole, and Kavali

August 17: Rajampet, Kadapa, Mydukuru and Proddutur

August 18: Nandyal and Kurnool

Friday, August 12, 2011 - 18:22

Round Table calls for formation of Strong Lokayuktas in States

A Round Table of eminent Andhra Pradesh citizens today unanimously recommended that the Union Government provide for constitution of Lokayuktas in States and ombudsmen in districts as part of the Lokpal Bill.

The Round Table, conducted by the Foundation for Democratic Reforms and the Lok Satta organization, constituted a nine-member steering committee to present the citizens’ viewpoint to the Parliamentary Committee which will consider the Bill as also all political parties.

Briefing media, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said that the Lokpal Bill as it is conceived ignored corruption at the State and local levels. States today account for bulk of corruption in the wake of economic liberalization and devolution of powers. There are indeed Lokayuktas in some States. They have only cars, phones and peons to flaunt but have no powers to fight corruption.

Dr. JP said that the Union Government’s Lokpal Bill drew upon a number of recommendations of the Round Table conducted by the FDR and the Lok Satta in Delhi on April 24. Its provisions concerning appointment and removal of Lokpal, funding of the institution, its powers to investigate, prosecute and try cases of corruption and suspend the guilty are all commendable. The Round Table wanted the Union Government to provide for constitution of Lokayuktas in States on similar lines and with similar powers.

The Round Table felt that the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Vigilance Commission at the national level and anti corruption bureaus and vigilance commissions in States should be strengthened and brought under the protective umbrella of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas respectively. The participants felt that Chief Ministers should be brought under the purview of the anti corruption mechanisms although they differed on including the Prime Minister.

Dr. JP pointed out that the Union Government can adopt the anti corruption law applicable to the entire country since it has ratified the UN Convention against Corruption. If the Union Government fails to provide for creation of Lokayuktas as part of the Lokpal Bill the Round Table decided to wage a struggle for creation of a strong Lokayukta in Andhra Pradesh to begin with by mobilizing public opinion.

A number of participants warned against diluting the Lokpal conceived to fight corruption in high places by entrusting it with powers to go into allegations of corruption against tens of thousands of non-governmental organizations receiving funds either from Government or people. NGOs, they conceded, are accountable for the funds they receive. Instead of burdening the Lokpal with inquiries into them, a separate regulator can be thought of, they added.

Dr. JP told the Round Table earlier that a strong and independent Lokpal is the need of the hour but it is not sufficient. Corruption has to be combated on many fronts. Political reforms, decentralization of powers, and promotion of competition will go a long way in minimizing corruption.

The Steering Committee comprises: Justice Ramanujam, former Lokayukta, K. Madhava Rao, former State Chief Secretary, and State Election Commissioner, Padmanabhaiah, former Union Home Secretary, C. Anjaneya Reddy, retired IPS, T. L. Narasimha Rao, Chelikani V. Rao, Padmanabha Reddy, Prathap Reddy and Y. Ramadevi. Sri Madhava Rao will be the convener.

Apart from the Steering Committee members, the following were among those who took part in the discussion: P. S. Ramamohana Rao, former Tamilnadu Governor, Kamal Kumar, former Director, National Police Academy, K. Ramachandra Murthy, Editor, HMTV. Radhrakrishna, Editor, ABN Andhra Jyoti, Amirneni Harikrishna of ETV, Kominneni Srinivasa Rao, Editor, NTV, Kandula Ramesh, Editor, I News, Sai, Principal Editor, Gemini News, K. Srinivasa Rao, Editor, Andhra Jyoti, Vijayababu, Editor, Andhra Prabha, Nagesh Kumar, Resident Editor, The Hindu, Bhaskara Rao of Center for Media Studies, T. Hanuman Chowdary, formor IT advisor to State Government, Ramakrishnam Raju, RTI United Forum, P. M. Bhargava, former Director, CCMB, and Chukka Ramaiah, MLC.

Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 19:48

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