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The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the anti-corruption Lokpal after it issued a tender for the purchase of seven luxurious BMW cars, saying it is no longer a Lokpal and is more of a “shock pal” and a “hobby pal”.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh’s statement came after the Lokpal issued a tender for the purchase of seven luxury BMW cars, the total value of which is around ₹5 crore. 50 million.
Jairam Ramesh told news agency PTI that there In collaboration with Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, ‘India Against Corruption’ and RSS, propaganda was carried out against the Manmohan Singh government and now the reality of Lokpal is in front of the people.
Ramesh said that there is a need to ask what investigation the Lokpal has conducted and whom they have succeeded in arresting.
‘Why does Lokpal need BMW cars?’
Senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P. Chidambaram also raised questions as to why the Lokpal Chairperson and six members need BMW cars when Supreme Court judges are provided with modest sedans.
Chidambaram said on Twitter, “Why spend public money to buy these cars? I hope at least one or two members of the Lokpal have refused, or will refuse, to buy these cars.”
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi also criticized the move and took a dig at the Lokpal.
“I chaired the parliamentary committee on Lokpal. Dr LM Singhvi first conceived the idea of Lokpal in the early 1960s. To see that the anti-corruption body is now ordering BMWs for its members is a sad irony, with the guardians of integrity chasing luxury rather than legality,” Singhvi said on X.
In another post he said, “8,703 complaints. Only 24 investigations. 6 prosecutions sanctioned. And now, the price of BMW 70 lakh each. If this is our anti-corruption watchdog, he is more of a poodle than a panther!”
Tender was floated on 16 October
As per tenders and manufacturer’s website, the long wheelbase sedan, which has an on-road price of approx ₹ 69.5 lakh per unit in Delhi, it is described as the longest and most spacious car in the segment, designed for excellent comfort in an extremely luxurious cabin.
“The Lokpal of India invites open tenders from reputed agencies for the supply of seven BMW 3 Series 330Li cars to the Lokpal of India,” the tender issued on October 16 said. It specifically mentions the purchase of the ‘M Sport’ model with a “long wheelbase” and white colour.
The purchase is aimed at providing one vehicle for every existing member of the institution, including Chairman Justice AM Khanwilkar (retd) and six other members. The sanctioned strength of Lokpal is eight.
The Lokpal tender states that the selected vendor will have to organize a comprehensive seven-day practical and theoretical training program for the drivers and designated staff of the Anti-Corruption Ombudsman, the cost for which will be borne exclusively by the vendor.
This training, which must be completed within 15 days of delivery of the vehicles, is required to include “familiarization with all controls, features and safety systems”, “emergency handling”, and a minimum of 50 to 100 kilometers of on-road practice for each driver.
Last date for bid submission is 6th November, in which earnest money has to be deposited. Rs 10 lakh is required from bidders. As per the tender, delivery is sought “preferably two weeks but not later than 30 days” from the date of supply order.
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