Anna Hazare to protest at Jantar Mantar on March 25

Mangaloretoday/ CNN-IBN

New Delhi, March 23: Anna Hazare announced on Friday that he would start another agitation throughout the country from 2014 if the Central Government failed to create a strong Lokpal. Addressing a press conference soon after the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh failed to arrive at a consensus on the Lokpal Bill, Hazare announced that he along with his supporters would sit on ’dharna’ (protest) on March 25 at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

 

While blaming the government of being insensitive, he said that the dharna at Jantar Mantar would seek protection for whistleblowers many of whom have been killed while exposing corruption cases.

"Twenty-five people fighting against corruption have been killed. The government is insensitive on this. We will sit on dharna on March 25 at Jantar Mantar to seek protection of whistleblowers," said Hazare.

Claiming that the present Lokpal Bill was not strong enough to stop corruption, he said that it was sad that the all-party meet failed to break the deadlock over the issue.

We will go to the people and could even protest at the Ramlila Maidan. The Assembly polls in five states are a clear indication about the people’s feeling. We will continue our agitation for a strong Lokpal Bill. If required we will sit on fast again," he said.

Team Anna member and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi also demanded a strong Lokpal and said that it was the responsibility of the Central Government to get the legislation passed in Parliament.

"We are looking for an effective legislative model. We will keep the awareness alive and keep the pressure alive. It is a collective social demand. The Central Government should come up with the strong Lokpal Bill," said Bedi.

"It seems the rift within Parliament is wide open on the Lokpal Bill. If the government is rethinking on amending the bill that has been passed in Lok Sabha, then it is a good sign. If there is the number game, then the ruling party has the numbers," she added.

 

All-party meet fails to break Lokpal deadlock


The deadlock over the Lokpal Bill remains with the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday failing to arrive at a consensus. The Prime Minister met Rajya Sabha MPs to discuss the Lokpal Bill and its passage in the Upper House of Parliament but the divergent views could not find a common ground.

Even though Singh told the MPs that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government was committed to a strong Lokpal, several MPs raised objections and sought clarifications on the different provisions of the Lokpal Bill.

Several MPs demanded clarity on the inclusion of the Lokayuktas in the Lokpal Bill, bringing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) within the Lokpal’s ambit and the procedure for the appointment and removal of the Lokpal members.

Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Ram Kripal Yadav and Lok Jan Shakti Party’s Ramvilas Paswan even opposed the creation of a Lokpal.