Congress Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge to boycott Lokpal meeting

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing this letter to you with reference to the office memorandum dated 6th July, 2018 of the Department of Personnel & Training inviting me to attend the meeting of Selection Committee on 19. July, 2018.

I would like to draw your kind attention to my earlier letters dated 28th February, 2018 and 10th April, 2018 which I had sent in response to the Oms requesting me to attend the meetings of the Selection Committee held on 1st March, 2018 and 10. April, 2018 respectively, as a "Special Invitee". It is very disappointing that my earlier letters not only went unacknowledged, but the serious concerns that were raised therein remain unaddressed.

The government insists on continuing to invite me as a special invitee to the Selection Committee meeting despite being aware of the fact that there is no such provision under section 4 of the Lokpal Act. It has been four years since your government came to power and if the government was indeed sincere about including the voice of the opposition in this process, it could have brought in the necessary amendments to ensure the same.

I am sure you are aware that the Select Committee has approved the Amendment to the Lokpal Act to include the Leader of the Single Largest Opposition Party as a member of the Selection Committee. The fact that this amendment has never been brought before the house by the government clearly indicates that the government is keen to keep the opposition outside the process of appointing the Lokpal.

The submissions made by the government in the Supreme Court and its actions indicate that the appointment of the Lokpal has never been accorded due importance or priority by your government. In fact, the recent actions of the government including the dilution of the Right to Information Act and the Whistleblower's Protection Act shows that instead of strengthening laws to fight corruption and empowering the common man, betrays the intentions of this government.

I believe that the process of appointing the Lokpal under such circumstances is vitiated. I would also like to caution that any eminent person who would be chosen for appointment as Lokpal would not accept this appointment made by a Selection Committee that did not consider the views of the Opposition.

Since no amendments in the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 have been carried out, an invitation as a "Special Invitee" without rights of participation, recording of opinion and voting in the procedure, is only to mislead the nation and the people, rather than sincerely seeking the participation and opinion of the opposition.

Under these circumstances, I must once again respectfully inform that I would not be able to attend the meeting of the Selection Committee until the Leader of Single Largest Opposition party is conferred the status of a full-fledged member as envisioned in the Lokpal Act, 2013.

With kind regards,

Yours Sincerely

Mallikarjun Kharge