Roy asks Sonia to ensure passge of Whistleblowers Protection

IBNLive.com: New Delhi: Saturday, July 07, 2012.

(PTI) Activist Aruna Roy today asked NAC chief Sonia Gandhi to ensure early passage of Whistleblowers Protection and Grievance Redress bills in Parliament as delay would convey the impression that government is "not serious" about accountability and corruption. She said while last year was dominated by discussions on transparency, accountability and anti–corruption legislations, the Lokpal controversy has held up the passage of some other important and non controversial legislations. "Despite RTI users and activists being attacked and even killed at regular intervals, the Whistleblower Protection Bill remains stuck in the Rajya Sabha, after having been passed by the Lok Sabha," she said. Roy said while the Lokpal Bill and the Judicial Accountability Bill are also important, they are more disputed and controversial. "However, not passing the Whistleblower Protection Bill and the Grievance Redress Bill on an urgent basis only conveys the impression that the government is not at all serious about issues of accountability and corruption," she said.