Indore: To ensure 'security' of the whistle-blowers, providing information to Central agencies probing corruption charges, the Government has decided to maintain 'total secrecy' in the matter, according to Union Minister for Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs, Suresh Pachouri.

Talking to reporters at the Press Club in Indore today (Oct 25, 2004), Pachouri said, "the Centre has decided not to reveal the identity of the persons making complaints to the Central agencies like CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) to prevent incidents like the murder of the engineer of National Highway Authority, Satyendra Dubey in Bihar."

Pachouri said, "If secrecy was maintained in case of Dubey, then he would have been alive today."

He also said the Government has taken steps to reduce the pendency of files in the offices and was working on introducing Right to Information bill and Lok Pal bill soon.

To a query, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has himself suggested that the Prime Minister be brought under the ambit of Lok Pal. On bringing the President of the country also under its purview, Pachouri said it was not feasible.

Referring to the deadlock in Parliament over the issue of tainted ministers, he said the Opposition members, instead of bringing notices on the issue, had boycotted the proceedings.

"There is a need to debate the issue of tainted ministers, specially when the person is not convicted," he said.

However, Congress was of the view that those accused of 'heinous crimes' should be debarred from contesting polls.

On Women's Reservation Bill, he said various suggestion were put forward by political parties and if the draft is ready then it would be introduced in the next session.