The Congress took potshots at anti-graft ombudsman Lokpal on Wednesday after it floated a tender to procure seven luxurious BMW cars, saying it is not Lokpal any longer and is more of a “shock pal” and “shauq pal”.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh’s statement came after Lokpal floated a tender to procure seven luxurious BMW cars, ₹5 crore”>collectively worth around ₹5 crore.
Jairam Ramesh told news agency PTI that there was a false narrative created against the Manmohan Singh government with Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, ‘India Against Corruption’, and the RSS indulging in propaganda, and now the reality of the Lokpal is before the people.
Ramesh said it needs to be asked what investigations the Lokpal has carried out and whose arrests they have succeeded in.
‘Why do Lokpal require BMW cars?’
Senior Congress leader and former home minister P Chidambaram also questioned as to when judges of the Supreme Court are provided modest sedans, why do the chairman and six members of the Lokpal require BMW cars.
“Why spend public money to acquire these cars? I hope that at least one or two members of the Lokpal have refused, or will refuse, to accept these cars,” Chidambaram said on X.
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi also criticised the move and took a swipe at Lokpal.
“I chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Lokpal. Dr. LM Singhvi first conceived the idea of Lokpal in the early 1960s. To see this anti-corruption body now ordering BMWs for its members is tragic irony, the guardians of integrity chasing luxury over legitimacy,” Singhvi said on X.
In another post, he said, “8,703 complaints. Only 24 probes. 6 prosecution sanctions. And now, BMWs worth ₹70 lakh each. If this is our anti-corruption watchdog, it’s more poodle than panther!”
Tender floated on October 16
According to the tender and the manufacturer’s website, the long-wheelbase sedan, with an on-road price of approximately ₹69.5 lakh per unit in Delhi, is described as the longest and most spacious car in the segment, designed for outstanding comfort in an extremely luxurious cabin.
“The Lokpal of India invites open tenders from reputed agencies for supply of seven BMW 3 series 330Li cars to the Lokpal of India,” read the tender floated on October 16, which specifically mentioned procurement of the ‘M Sport’ model with “long wheelbase” and in white colour.
The procurement aims to provide a vehicle for each of the institution’s current members, including Chairman Justice AM Khanwilkar (retd) and six other members. The sanctioned strength of the Lokpal is eight.
The Lokpal’s tender mandates that the selected vendor must conduct a comprehensive seven-day practical and theoretical training programme for the anti-graft ombudsman’s drivers and designated staff, for which the cost will be borne exclusively by the vendor.
This training, which must be completed within 15 days of the vehicles’ delivery, is required to cover “familiarisation with all controls, features and safety systems”, “emergency handling”, and a minimum of 50 to 100 kilometres of on-road practice for each driver.
The last date for bid submission is November 6, with an earnest money deposit of ₹10 lakh required from bidders. Delivery is sought “preferably two weeks but not later than 30 days” from the supply order date, according to the tender.
