Suspended BJP MP on protest fast against Himachal's Lokayukta act

Shimla, April 5 (IANS) A suspended parliamentarian of Himachal Pradesh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was on a day-long fast Thursday in the shadow of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi here to protest against the 'draconian' provisions of the state's proposed Lokayukta Act.

Rajan Sushant, Lok Sabha MP from Kangra, told IANS that the proposed legislation was aimed at creating "fear psychosis in the minds of the complainants as it's prescribing a punishment of one year if the complaint is found to be frivolous".

"It's very weak and ineffective as most of the powers (to act against corruption) have been kept by the government with itself," he said, adding "it aims to provide illegitimate protection to corrupt people rather than to punish them".

The MP, who is on a day-long fast demanding an effective Lokayukta system by giving more powers to the ombudsman, also questioned the "inability" of the state BJP to follow its own governments in Karnataka and Uttarakhand.

"If Karnataka and Uttarakhand can give more teeth to Lokayukta, why not this state," he said.

"This means the state BJP disowns its own party models in Uttarakhand and Karnataka," he said.

Pointing to loopholes in Himachal's Lokayukta bill that was listed for discussion Friday, the last day of the budget, Sushant said most of the powers - to give prosecution sanction - still remain with the government.