New Delhi: The Lokpal of India, an anti-corruption organization, is currently in the news for its luxury car tender. The Lokpal has issued a tender for the purchase of seven BMW cars for its seven members, reportedly costing more than ₹70 lakh each. The opposition has reacted sharply to this move.
Following this decision, the opposition has questioned the Lokpal’s motives. Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram wrote on Twitter, “When honorable Supreme Court judges are given sedan cars, why do the Lokpal Chairperson and six members need BMW cars? Why are such expensive cars being purchased with public money? I hope some Lokpal members will refuse to accept these cars.”
In addition to Chidambaram, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi also took a dig at the Lokpal, saying, “It is ironic that the institution that should be a model of honesty and simplicity has now joined the race for luxury.” He also questioned the Lokpal’s functioning, noting that the Lokpal has received 8,703 complaints so far, but investigations have only begun in 24 of them. However, no formal response has yet been issued by the government or the Lokpal on this controversy. According to sources, the tender process is still in its preliminary stages, and a final purchase decision has not yet been made.
