New Delhi:
Despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance over bringing a strong and effective Lokpal Bill in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, there seems to be no let-up on the pressure exerted by veteran anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare. After a successfully rally in Bangalore yesterday, the 74-year-old activist, addressing supporters in Chennai today, said the government has fooled the people many times.
"I have removed six corrupt ministers through my protest," said Anna who is pushing for turning his Jan Lokpal (Citizens' Ombudsman) Bill into a reality.
Warning the government again that he will start a protest from December 27 if they do not pass the Lokpal Bill during this winter session of Parliament, Anna also asked his supporters to join hands for his campaign and to fill up jails if the need arises.
"If the government does not have clarity, we will fill up jails in New Year. Going to jail is like an ornament, be prepared to wear it....those who die for the country live forever," he said.
The current draft that Mr Hazare referred to has been prepared by Parliament's Standing Committee which was tasked to study the proposed legislation that would enable the creation of a Lokpal, an ombudsman agency that will tackle cases of graft among government servants. But the veteran activist is unhappy with the contents of the draft that has missed out on some of his key demands for inclusion in the bill. Crucial among these is the inclusion of the Prime Minister, the lower bureaucracy and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the ambit of the Lokpal. Even as the government seems favourably inclined to accepting the first two demands, the CBI continues to be the point of contention. Mr Hazare had, in fact, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday accused the government of being unwilling to let go of control over the CBI. "The Lokpal is toothless without the CBI," he had said.
(Read)The Prime Minister, meanwhile, reiterated again the government's intent to pass the Lokpal Bill in this session of Parliament and is working day and night to shape the bill.
"No one should doubt our sincerity in passing the bill in this season," the PM had said.
(Read)But Mr Hazare's team of activists, better known as Team Anna, remains unconvinced. They also remain firm on their demands that they want included in the Lokpal Bill. On the point of the inclusion of the lower bureaucracy under the Lokpal, they contend that the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which looks into cases of graft among junior bureaucrats, neither has the powers nor the resources to deal with the situation. It has also made it clear that it wants superintendence, administrative and financial control of the CBI. Currently, the government is inclined to only grant the Lokpal powers over the CBI in cases of corruption referred to the ombudsman. It though seems agreeable to the Lokpal exercising its jurisdiction over the lower bureaucracy.
The Union Cabinet will, in fact, meet on Monday to discuss the bill ahead of the government introducing it in the Parliament next week. NDTV has got exclusive information of what are likely to be the broad contours of the proposed bill.
- The Prime Minister will be under the Lokpal but with certain safeguards
- The PM can be referred for a preliminary probe if three-fourth of all Lokpal members agree
- The proceedings will be in camera, and the report will have to be sent to the Parliament
- On the issue of the CBI, the agency will report to the Lokpal only on cases referred to it by the ombudsman
- The CBI chief's appointment remains an outstanding issue and will be dealt with later, though in principle, the government agrees on a selection panel comprising the Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition, the Lok Sabha speaker and the Lokpal chairman
- On the issue of the removal of the Lokpal, the government doesn't favour an impeachment
- The removal of the Lokpal can be done through a reference of the President
- If 100 MPs sign a petition against any Lokpal member, the President has to refer the complaint to the Supreme Court
Meanwhile, Mr Hazare will be watching the proceedings from the viewers' gallery in Parliament when the contentious Lokpal Bill will be tabled. Some of his team members may also join him there.
(Read) The septuagenarian has warned the government of going on yet another fast from December 27 and starting a "jail bharo" agitation if the bill is not passed in the ongoing session of Parliament.
His team is already preparing for the campaign with multiple locations being considered in Mumbai for his proposed fast. They, though, have also kept Delhi as an option for the venue.