Individual diktats must not weaken democratic process: Rahul Gandhi

Disapproving of Anna Hazare's hunger strike, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said democratic processes should not be weakened by "individual diktats" which could set dangerous precedent and rejected the belief that Lokpal alone would eradicate corruption.

Breaking his silence, he said a political will and a comprehensive framework would be required to fight the menace and suggested a "game-changing idea" of creating a Constitutional institution of Lokpal like the Election Commission accountable to Parliament.

Gandhi, speaking during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, agreed that "corruption is pervasive" which operates at "every level" but warned that there was a "risk" that an unaccountable Lokpal "might itself become corrupt".

Referring to the anti-corruption campaign of Hazare, he said it has "helped the people to articulate" their disillusionment and "I thank him for that".

At the same time, he warned "individual diktats, no matter how well-intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process. A tactical incursion, divorced from the machinery of an elected government that seeks to undo the checks and balances created to protect the supremacy of Parliament sets a dangerous precedent for a democracy.

"Today, the proposed law is against corruption. Tomorrow, the target may be something less universally heralded. It may attack the plurality of our society and democracy."

As his sister Priyanka watched from the visitors' gallery, Gandhi's speech was disrupted by NDA members, protesting against his making a statement on the issue during Zero Hour.

This triggered heated exchanges with Congress members shouting back. Speaker Meira Kumar ruled that she had allowed Gandhi to speak, after which he continued his speech.

"Witnessing the events of the last few days, it would appear that the enactment of a single bill will usher in a corruption-free society. I have serious doubts about this belief," Gandhi said, adding an effective Lokpal "is only one element in the legal framework to combat corruption."

He maintained that "Lokpal institution alone cannot be a substitute for a comprehensive anti-corruption code. A set of effective laws is required.

"We speak of a statutory Lokpal but our discussion cease at the point of its accountability to the people and the risk that it might itself become corrupt," the Congress general secretary told the packed House with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being among those in attendance.

"Why not elevate the debate and fortify the Lokpal by making it a Constitutional body accountable to Parliament like the Election Commission of India? I feel the time has come for us to seriously consider this idea," he said.

Gandhi, who left Parliament immediately after his remarks, told reporters outside the house that his suggestion to elevate Lokpal to an Election Commission-type body was "a game changing idea".

Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said the anti-graft fight required "a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political programme supported by all levels of the State from the highest to the lowest. Most importantly, it requires firm political will."

He said the fight against corruption required "a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political programme supported by all levels of the State from the highest to the lowest. Most importantly, it requires firm political will."

Elaborating on effective laws needed to tackle corruption, the Congress leader said the critical issues which were necessary to stand alongside the Lokpal included government funding of elections and political parties.

The other issues were transparency in public procurement, proper regulation of sectors that fuel corruption like land and mining, grievance redress mechanisms in public service delivery of old age pensions and ration cards and continued tax reforms to end tax evasion, he said.

"We owe it to the people of this country to work together across party lines to ensure that Parliament functions at its optimum capacity and delivers these laws in a just and time-bound manner," Gandhi said.

Noting that laws and institutions were "not enough", he said "a representative, inclusive and accessible democracy is central to fighting corruption."

Observing that individuals have brought great gains to the country and galvanised people in the cause of freedom and development, he said the faith in democracy was shared by members of the house.

"I know that regardless of their political affiliation, many of my colleagues work tirelessly to realise the ideals upon which our nation was built. The pursuit of truth is the greatest of those ideals. It won us freedom. It gave us democracy," Gandhi said, appealing to the members to "commit ourselves to truth and probity in public life. We owe it the people of India."