M A I N   N E W S

Hazare begins fast, draws wide support
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

Heart of the matter The Lokpal Bill, which aims to bring the Prime Minister’s Office and lawmakers under the purview of an anti-corruption ombudsman, has been introduced, rehashed and abandoned several times since 1968, the year it was first proposed In its current form, the Bill seeks to set up a corruption watchdog — without actually having the power to curb it — with the Lokpal as a recommending authority

Activists want more A Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in each state They should be independent of the governments Investigations in corruption cases to be completed in one year The trial be completed in one year Loss caused to the exchequer be recovered after conviction

New Delhi, April 5
Defying an appeal from the Prime Minister, noted social activist Anna Hazare today began his fast-unto-death at the protest hot spot of the Capital, Jantar Mantar, demanding greater public participation in formulating a stronger Lokpal Bill.

Accompanied by Swami Agnivesh, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey, public leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Mallika Sarabhai, Hazare was categorical in saying that “fake assurances” of the government would not work with him.

He is determined to remain on fast till the government agrees to form a joint committee comprising 50 per cent officials and remaining citizens and intellectuals to draft the anti-corruption Bill.

“I have written to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and even met the Prime Minister but no concrete steps were taken to implement or even discuss positively the enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill prepared by social activists and public leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Justice Santosh Hegde,” said the activist.

Activists spearheading the initiative “India Against Corruption” had met Manmohan Singh and presented a draft of their proposal on the Jan Lokpal Bill. Singh had suggested that a sub-committee of the GoM could interact with them and address their concerns.

But the activists remain skeptical. “The GoM on the Lokpal has Sharad Pawar, who is himself involved in many corruption cases, and Kapil Sibal, who never sees corruption anywhere. Do you think that will help.”

“We want that a joint committee to draft the new bill where at least half the members are public leaders,” quipped Kejriwal.

Faced with growing pressure from civil groups and Hazare’s fast the government may find it difficult to ignore the issue. Government sources however explain that there is no way the Prime Minister can give instant assurances, especially when there is no precedence of a joint committee. “Besides, discussions are going on and the Bill has not yet been finalised,” they say.

Sonia Gandhi-led NAC also is showing keen interest in the Lokpal Bill.

But a belligerent Kejriwal today wondered aloud, “Does the government ever listen to the NAC ? Maybe during the UPA-I it did but this is hardly the case with UPA-II.” Besides activists and common people, Hazare also has the support of BJP and its allies.

The Congress termed Hazare’s for a stronger Lokpal Bill as “premature”. Party spokesman Manish Tewari said: “In a democracy, it is the responsibility of the government to propose a legislation and prerogative of the Parliament to enact it. And in between there is enough scope that if any constructive suggestion comes, amendments can be moved,” he said.