New Delhi, December 9 The unrelenting public outrage over the murder of Satyendra Dubey following The Indian Express coverage of the tragedy, has finally led to a groundswell of support across the political spectrum for the enactment of a Whistleblower Act, the draft of which has been lying in cold storage for the past 24 months.

Cutting across political lines, leading members of the ruling coalition as well as the Opposition today came out in support of a legislation that would protect the identity of a whistleblower in future so that more Dubeys can come out against corruption in public life without risking their lives.

The author of the draft, Justice Reddy, had told The Indian Express yesterday that had the Government acted upon his Bill and passed a law, ‘‘Dubey wouldn’t have died.’’

Although no NDA minister has spoken out on the issue so far, BJP spokesman M A Naqvi and TDP leader in the Lok Sabha Yerran Naidu both favoured the passage of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Informers) Bill, the formal name given to the Whsitleblower Bill that was drafted by Justice B P Jeevan Reddy more than two years ago.

BJP general secretary Naqvi told The Indian Express, ‘‘Whenever there is a whistleblower around, the government must lend him a ear. Otherwise, there will be no way to check people who are running a parallel system and consider themselves above the law.’’

Pledging support to the bill whether it came ‘‘in this session or next,’’ TDP leader Yerran Naidu said: ‘‘In the interest of corrupt-free governance, it is the need of the hour to protect those who inform the government on corruption. It is also the constitutional duty of the government to protect those who boldly come to inform about nefarious dealings.’’

Congress leader Jaipal Reddy asserted that his party was in favour of the Act and would welcome ‘‘anything that brings more transparency to the system.’’

CPI(M) leader Somnath Chatterjee, who demanded a statement from the government on the murder of Dubey in the Lok Sabha today, said: ‘‘There is a lacuna in the legal system and also in our administrative system, and our party will certainly support and welcome a legislation to protect whistle blowers.’’

Criticising the ‘‘extreme apathy’’ shown by the government to Dubey’s charges, he said, ‘‘A country which is fighting corruption at the government level needs to provide some form of protection to informers to come out against the system.’’

Echoing his sentiments, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said: ‘‘There is an urgent need to bring a legislation that can protect those who are ready to expose corruption. Otherwise, no one will come forward to and risk their lives to take on the rot in the system, especially after what happened to Dubey whose plea for protection was not honoured.’’

Regional parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, also promised support if the government were to bring forward such a legislation before Parliament.

Said SP general secretary Amar Singh: ‘‘We have not yet discussed the merits of the proposed legislation in the party forum but I will ensure my party favours such a bill. It is ethical to support someone who is upright and forthright.’’

Pointing out anybody who gives information needs protection, Singh said just as the media does not need to reveal its sources, ‘‘We need something similar for whistleblowers.’’

BSP leader Rashid Alvi also asserted that anybody who disclosed a corrupt act ‘‘whether by bureaucrats or politicians’’ needed protection, ‘‘provided he has the proof.’’