Source: https://voicefromtherooftop.com/tag/corruption-in-india/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 21:08:25+00:00

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It is strange that former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) V. K. Shunglu suggested that CAG be made a multi-member body. Narayanasamy, MoS in PMO said the government is actively considering it and later retracted.
V. K. Shunglu had submitted six reports on Commonwealth Games. The government implemented first report which was against B. S. Lalli. Other reports which were against Sheila Dikshit and others were not implemented.
About CAG, V. K. Shunglu had suggested that a three-member body would obtain greater transparency in operation. Was there not enough transparency when Shunglu was CAG?
Former CEC S. Y. Quraishi said CAG will become more powerful if it has more than one member. The fact is additional members are appointed to make Election Commission fall in line with government. One CEC had problem with Navin Kohli who was then Election Commissioner. The CEC did not want Navin Kohli to succeed him as CED but UPA government appointed him as CEC.
The constitution provides for CAG as one person and Election Commission as a body headed by CEC. Articles 148-151 deal with CAG, duties and powers, accounts, and audit reports. Article 148 is clear that CAG is one person. There is no provision for multi-member CAG.
Article 324 deals with Election Commission. It states, among other things, â€œThe Election Commission shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may from time to time fixâ€¦â€ CEC is enough. ECs are optional. For a long time India had only CEC. In 1989 Rajiv Gandhi government appointed two ECs. Rajiv Gandhi was unhappy with R. V. S. Peri Sastry. When V. P. Singh government came to power they removed the two ECs. When T. N. Seshan became CEC he took decisions that favoured Congress. Janata Dal wanted his removal. P. V. Narasimha Rao promised that but did not keep his promise. Later T. N. Seshan became a problem for Congress. Then Congress government appointed two ECs. As the governments changed they continued with Election Commission as a three-member body. They promoted ECs as CECs and brought as ECs people who thought were suitable for them. Sometimes the calculations went wrong.
UPA is unhappy with Vinod Rai as CAG. Previous CAGs were quiet. Vinod Rai said the brazenness with which the decisions are taken is appalling. Amending the constitution to curb CAGâ€™s powers is not easy for UPA. CAG is a constitutional functionary. There is no bar on him holding press conferences, giving interviews, blogging, or tweeting.
IAC members launched their political party on Gandhi Jayanti at Constitution Club. They will announce the name of the party on 26 November, Constitution Day. I wondered it may have to do with 26/11. The party could have done without white caps with words â€œI am common manâ€ and â€œI want Jan Lokpalâ€ as its symbol. White caps belong to a bygone era. Not many politicians use them.
Arvind Kejriwal appeared on Headlines Today and Times Now. He talked of people fixing the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG. On issues like FDI in multi-brand retail decisions will be through discussions.
The party mentioned its agenda. MPs and MLAs will not have red beacons atop their cars, not use government bungalows and so on. In that case they will have to auction government bungalows. Otherwise former MPs and MLAs will stay on. How will MPs and MLAs who are not residents of capitals manage during Parliament or Assembly sessions? Will there be flats or government accommodation?
Arvind Kejriwal announced agitation on 7/10/2012 against water and power tariff hike by Delhi government. Money saved by cracking down on corruption will be spent on health and education. There will be direct power to people. It means referendum on any importance issue. That happens in Switzerland.
The party should give up the idea of reservation for women in Parliament and Assemblies.

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