In a surprise decision, the Congress party, Friday, decided to retain the same panel for the Lokpal standing committee. Party spokesperson Manish Tiwari, who had recused himself from the committee, would continue to be a member.
Tewari quit the panel in view of the controversy he kicked up by accusing Anna Hazare of corruption. He had later apologized for his remarks.
“I am all for a strong and effective Lokpal. I do not want any controversy to cast a shadow on the deliberations of this important bill. I, therefore, recuse myself from the Standing Committee,” Tewari had said.
Manish Tewari to stay in Lopkal committee
The members of Standing Committees are appointed by Lok Sabha Speaker and Chairman of Rajya Sabha on the recommendations of political parties.
Senior Congress leader Abhsihek Manu Singhvi would continue as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice committee, which is looking into the Lokpal Bill.
The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to take place on September 7. The 31-member panel is being reconstituted – its term ended on August 31 – with various parties nominating their members.
Manish Tewari to stay in Lopkal committee
Two days before Hazare was due to commence his fast in Delhi on August 16, the activist was targeted by the Congress spokesperson for the first time when Tewari cited Sawant Commission report and accused him of being “steeped in corruption from head to toe”.
A few days back, Tewari, however, apologised for levelling allegations against Hazare and appealed to the Gandhian to call off his fast.
But the apology by the Congress MP from Punjab did not cut much ice with Hazare since the anti-corruption crusader’s lawyer Milind Pawar said a case of defamation would be filed against Tewari in a Pune court next week.
“I know some of my recent utterances have caused hurt to Mr Hazare. I regret the same and I would like to appeal to him as a citizen of this country to end his fast…In the course of political cut and thrust, certain things are inadvertently said which cause pain,” he had said.
Tewari, while going ballistic against Hazare, had earlier also said that Team Anna comprised “armchair fascists, overground Maoists, closet anarchists funded by invisible donors”. Tewari’s comments had evoked strong reactions from Hazare’s supporters.