Lokpal was Pratap Kesari’s brainchild

Expressbuzz, April 13, 2011
BHAWANIPATNA: Anna Hazare’s triumph in pushing ahead with the demand for Lokpal was in a way Kalahandi district’s win too. Few know that the Lokpal concept was first conceived by late Pratap Kesari Deo in 1965. During the first session of the fourth Lok Sabha, the non-official Lokpal Bill in 1965 was introduced by Pratap Kesari Deo of  Swatantra Party, a Lok Sabha member from Kalahandi constituency then.

This non-official bill was classified as Classified-A by the committee on Private Members Bill. However, after 15 days when the bill came for consideration there was opposition from treasury benches on technical grounds. They said clause like President’s prior recommendation before the consideration stage was absent. This was necessary as the bill envisaged financial commitment by the Government. He moved a substitute motion that the bill be circulated to elicit public opinion. After that it could not see light of the day due to political manoeuvring.

Deo in his book ‘Memories of a bygone era’ lamented that “had it been in our statute book, all these maladies of kickbacks, scams or bribes could have been prevented without wasting Parliament’s time.”

“It is time we remembered Deo, who could foresee the maladies that were gradually engulfing our social and political system,” said Convenor of Vision- Kalahandi 2020 Akhaya Kumar Nandi and president of Kalahandi Citizens’ Forum Rama Chandra Mohapatra.