We will make state Lokpal more effective: Naveen

BHUBANESWAR: Reiterating the Biju Janata Dal’s stand for a strong Lokpal in the country, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said that the Government is committed to amend the existing law to make the Lokpal effective in the State.  “We are in favour of a strong Lokpal, and also an effective Lokpal at the State level and will take steps to amend the present law after the panchayat elections,” Naveen told mediapersons here. Stating that the BJD’s stand on the Lokpal Bill had been made clear in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that as far as the CBI is concerned, the anti-corruption wing of the agency should come under the Lokpal. On the allegation by Opposition Congress that the BJD Government is suppressing the state Lokpal reports on land acquisition for Vedanta University, Naveen said that a number of pending special reports had so far been cleared in the State Cabinet. “We will bring rest of the Lokpal’s special reports to the Cabinet shortly and then table them in the Assembly as per procedure,” he said. Stating that he was “very concerned” over the health of Anna Hazare, the Chief Minister hoped the Gandhian would recover very soon.