Luxury Overwatch: The Irony of Lokpal's High-End Car Procurement

The Congress party has voiced strong criticism against the anti-corruption agency Lokpal, following its decision to acquire seven luxury BMW vehicles, each costing approximately Rs 5 crore. The move has been described by Congress as an ironic contradiction to the agency's mandate of maintaining integrity and fighting corruption.

Citing the opulent purchase, Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh pointed out the lack of significant action taken by Lokpal. With over 8,703 complaints and only 24 probes, Congress leaders question the agency's effectiveness. Meanwhile, senior leader P Chidambaram openly criticized the unnecessary expense, especially when high court judges use more modest vehicles.

These luxury cars are intended for the Lokpal chairman and six other members, each participating in a comprehensive training session post-delivery. The procurement has fueled the argument that Lokpal's actions indicate indulgence over integrity, with only a minority of its members potentially declining these vehicles.