How good is the CBI?

Centre to bring bill on selection of Lokayuktas: Narayanasamy

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) The government is planning to bring a 'model bill' to bring uniformity in the selection of Lokayuktas in the states, Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy said here Saturday.
Speaking at the valedictory session of the two-day biennial conference of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and state anti-corruption bureaux, he also lamented the fact that only 22 states have set up Lokayuktas.
'Lokayukta will be a model bill so that the state can bring uniformity in the law. In the selection process, they are involving the political people,' he said in his address.
'We will ensure that there should be an independent process for the selection,' he added.
Despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh writing personal letters to all chief ministers, only 22 have constituted the Lokayukta while the rest are being 'persuaded', he added.
The minister also said that it has become a 'fashion' for states, including courts to refer cases to the CBI. But, he said he was happy with it as it shows the 'faith of people' in the investigating agency.
'Why should you come to us? You have a strong police mechanism, investigative mechanism in your state,' he said.
'Now it has become a fashion for every state, also the courts... whatever is there political parties also demand CBI inquiry to be ordered. It has become a fashion for them. Because the people of this country have faith and confidence in the CBI organization,' he added.
In his address Friday, Manmohan Singh had said that they are considering changes in the law to make private sector bribery a criminal offence.

It is good that Anna's agitation is bringing results and the centre is bringing a bill for appointment of Lokayuktas in all state. Let us hope it is in line with what Anna wants and not just political appointments. We have seen how effective a Lokayukta has been in Karnataka where the chief minister had to step down.
I congratulate the central government.
However, the centre should not congratulate itself with regard to the CBI.
In the states, it is mainly the opposition parties who demand a CBI probe since they have no faith in the local police who are under the control of the party in power.
Unfortunately, in the centre, the opposition has no choice.
There is nobody whom they can appeal to to carry out an independent enquiry. The CBI is under the thumbs of the government in power at the centre who manipulate the CBI as per its convenience. They initiate and withdraw cases against opposition party members according to whether they support or oppose the government.
THAT IS WHY ANNA IS DEMANDING THAT THE CBI BE MADE TRULY INDEPENDENT, NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.