Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has declined PM Narendra Modi's invite to attend the Lokpal committee meeting for the fourth time in a row, as the Centre has not acceded to his demand that he be recognised as the Leader of Opposition. Previously, too, Kharge has been invited to the Lokpal meetings as a "special invitee", which he has been protesting. He has stated his displeasure with the status in written letters on February 28, April 10, and July 18.
"Despite these earlier letters of mine, the government continues to invite me as a special invitee to the Selection Committee, knowing very well what the outcome would be. Perhaps, the government intends this outcome in order to create another strawman to attack by suggesting that the opposition is not cooperating in implementing the Lokpal Act," Kharge wrote in a letter dated August 19.
Pointing at section 8 of the Brief for the Selection Committee meeting to be held on Tuesday, Kharge said that the Committee comprises only four members — the Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India, and Mukul Rohatgi in his capacity as an eminent jurist. "This point makes clear what I had contended in my earlier letters — that there is no provision for a Special Invitee under the Lokpal Act," said Kharge.
Alleging that the process of appointing the Lokpal under such circumstances is vitiated, Kharge said that in a parliamentary democracy, excluding the voice of the Opposition will subjugate the Parliament. "It is deeply embarrassing to the Parliament that even after the Select Committee of the Parliament has approved the amendment to the Lokpal Act that would enable the Leader of the Single Largest Party to be a member of the Selection Committee, the government refuses to bring this amendment before the house," wrote Kharge.
STATUS DEFINITION
The Centre has not acceded to his demand that he be recognised as the Leader of Opposition. Previously, too, Kharge has been invited to the Lokpal meetings as a “special invitee”, which he has been protesting.
