There was wide criticism of the perceived attack on federalism Members of Parliament across the political spectrum are apprehensive of what the establishment of a supreme Lokpal — answerable to none — may hold for the future of the parliamentary system of governance as India has known and for the entire political establishment. Even as the process for the historic legislation for establishing a Lokpal began on Thursday with the introduction of...

-Express News Service   Virtually forced into drafting it, the government today introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha that aims to fight corruption via the Lokpal at the centre and Lokayuktas in the states, an unprecedented oversight body whose members are selected, and which is set to be dominated by members of the higher judiciary. The singular theme emerging from the proceedings of the house today was the unease across the political...

-The Times of India   A couple of days back, Prime MinisterManmohan Singh was promised a rose by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare in the event of a strong Lokpal Bill. At this moment, however, its the thorns in that rose which stand out. Confrontation is looming over the current shape of the Bill, which is likely to retain administrative government control over the CBI. Anna has reverted swiftly to agitation mode, declaring...

-The Indian Express Anna Hazare has accused the Centre of “cheating the people” by trying to enact a weak Lokpal, to “save” corrupt politicians. Meanwhile, Prashant Bhushan contends that the CBI chief’s selection was bound to be problematic, given that it would be decided by two politicians (“the prime minister and someone who hopes to someday be prime minister”) and the Chief Justice of India (previous holders of that office having...

The government’s desperate race to redraft the Lokpal bill in time for passage this Parliament session has left political circles uneasy, with even some Opposition leaders conceding the dangers of lawmaking under such abnormal pressure. The Centre too is squirming at this “indecent haste”, prompted by its keenness to avoid another face-off with Team Anna. But it feels it has little choice in a political climate where “confrontationism” is giving the...