Pune, November 29 (AGENCIES): Discontented with the Standing Committee draft of the Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare reiterated his threat to launch an indefinite agitation, if a strong Bill is not passed in the ongoing Parliament session.
Mr Hazare stated that he would fast for a day on December 11 to push for the demand. Following this, an indefinite agitation will be launched at the Ramlila Maidan if the demands are not met in the session that ends on December 22.
“It is clear from the Standing Committee draft that the government is cheating people,” Mr Hazare said. The Standing committee has not included the lower bureaucracy and the CBI in the ambit of the Lokpal, Mr Hazare said. “This is inspite of the fact that the Prime Minister gave us in writing that the three demands would be accepted,” he stated. In August this year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured Mr Hazare that the Parliament agreed “in principle” with the demand for a citizens’ charter, including the lower bureaucracy under Lokpal through an appropriate mechanism and the establishment of Lokayukta in states.
Stating that the inclusion of the lower bureaucracy is the only way to root out corruption, Mr Hazare said, “This is an attempt to weaken the Lokpal. This will not help the common man at all, who is suffering everyday.” He said that there would be “no compromise” on the issue of including the CBI under Lokpal.
“The government is trying to break the Lokpal in several parts. But by doing so, they are not strengthening any laws. If they want a separate body for the CBI, they can do so. But is the government ready to appoint experts to draft a strong bill and make an independent body?” the activist asked.
Mr Hazare said that he will tour the five poll-bound states and tell the people that the government was betraying them on the issue.
According to reports, the Standing Committee has not yet taken a decision of the inclusion of the Prime Minister. The draft will be discussed in Parliament on Wednesday. Mr. Hazare stated that the Committee’s decision to include NGOs and media in the ambit of Lokpal reflected the government’s double standards. “On the one hand, you are including media and NGOs but on the other hand, you do not want the Prime Minister and MPs. This is not fair,” he said.
Mr Hazare stated that he would fast for a day on December 11 to push for the demand. Following this, an indefinite agitation will be launched at the Ramlila Maidan if the demands are not met in the session that ends on December 22.
“It is clear from the Standing Committee draft that the government is cheating people,” Mr Hazare said. The Standing committee has not included the lower bureaucracy and the CBI in the ambit of the Lokpal, Mr Hazare said. “This is inspite of the fact that the Prime Minister gave us in writing that the three demands would be accepted,” he stated. In August this year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured Mr Hazare that the Parliament agreed “in principle” with the demand for a citizens’ charter, including the lower bureaucracy under Lokpal through an appropriate mechanism and the establishment of Lokayukta in states.
Stating that the inclusion of the lower bureaucracy is the only way to root out corruption, Mr Hazare said, “This is an attempt to weaken the Lokpal. This will not help the common man at all, who is suffering everyday.” He said that there would be “no compromise” on the issue of including the CBI under Lokpal.
“The government is trying to break the Lokpal in several parts. But by doing so, they are not strengthening any laws. If they want a separate body for the CBI, they can do so. But is the government ready to appoint experts to draft a strong bill and make an independent body?” the activist asked.
Mr Hazare said that he will tour the five poll-bound states and tell the people that the government was betraying them on the issue.
According to reports, the Standing Committee has not yet taken a decision of the inclusion of the Prime Minister. The draft will be discussed in Parliament on Wednesday. Mr. Hazare stated that the Committee’s decision to include NGOs and media in the ambit of Lokpal reflected the government’s double standards. “On the one hand, you are including media and NGOs but on the other hand, you do not want the Prime Minister and MPs. This is not fair,” he said.
