Lokpal Bill Will Be Introduced In Next Session : Moily

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Apr 6: A day after social activist Anna Hazare launched his fast-unto-death on the Lokpal Bill issue, Government today said it was was open to any suggestion on the proposed legislation and had not turned down his demand for a joint committee.

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said that the government was open to suggestions even though it was “anxious to introduce the Bill in the next session”.

He said the government “did not say no” on demand for a Joint Committee to draft the bill after a sub-committee of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on corruption held discussions with representatives of Hazare and other members of civil society.

“Even on the demand for joint committee, we said we were open. We never closed our mind even on the formation of joint committee...In principle we did not say no,” Moily said adding, that the Prime Minister was open to all suggestions on the bill.

He said though the bill has already been drafted, it will not “find a finality” unless it goes to Parliamentary Standing Committee.

“The Standing Committee can always throw it open to discussions and deliberations with everyone. No bill is passed in hide and seek manner. Parliament has the most transparent way of functioning in our country,” Moily said.

72-year-old Hazare is observing a fast-unto-death demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman. He is pressing for formation of a joint committee comprising 50 per cent officials and the remaining citizens and intellectuals to draft the Bill. PTI

New Delhi, April 6: Noted social activist Anna Hazare entered the second day of his fast-unto-death, Wednesday, to press for the enactment of a comprehensive law like the Jan Lokpal Bill to tackle corruption.

 

72-year-old Hazare is demanding the committee that will draft the Jan Lokpal Bill, the anti-corruption ombudsman, should have equal representation from the government and members of the civil society so as to ensure that the legislation gets to acquire an autonomous identity – something he feels is very crucial to battle corruption in the country.

 

He also wants that the Bill should be empowering in nature by way of powers to prosecute the corrupt.

"If the government alone drafts this Bill, it will be autocratic not democratic, there will be discrepancies," Hazare, who has in the past too observed fasts to protest against corruption, said.

Hazare appears to be not unduly worried about his health. “Blood pressure is OK but there is some weakness, but I will continue with the movement till my last breath,” the crusader said.

On whether he is hoping that the government would come forward to address his concerns, he said, “How can I believe this government, they may come or not. I am not waiting for them. The people of the country are standing by me.”

“This is not Anna Hazare’s movement. This is democracy, when drafting the Lok Pal Bill, let there be half representation from the society… If they (government) feel that corruption needs to be curbed, then why are they shying away from it?” he rued.

“Let the government come or not, I will continue on my chosen path,” the fighter said, while adding that he will live for the country till his last breath.

His message seems to be spreading as protests were held in over 200 cities across the country yesterday in support of the movement kick-started by Hazare.

At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where Hazare is sitting on strike, scores of people including noted reformist Swami Agnivesh, former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey, are present in support of the crusader against corruption.

The Lokpal Bill is a 42 year old legislation and has been introduced 10 times in the Parliament but it has yet to be cleared.

Anna Hazare’s fast against corruption strikes huge chord

New Delhi, April 5: In cities across India, people are gathering to support activist Anna Hazare, who has begun a hunger strike in Delhi against corruption.

 

Young students, housewives and office executives grouped in cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad. Mr Hazare in Delhi first visited Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat and then marched to Jantar Mantar accompanied by hundreds of supporters. School children waved the tricolour as he went by in an open jeep.

The Prime Minister had appealed to Mr Hazare to skip his fast. A press release from the Prime Minister’s Office last night said the PM has tremendous respect for Mr Hazare and his mission.

What Mr Hazare is campaigning for is a comprehensive Lok Pal Bill. "The Prime Minister says we trust you (Hazare), we respect you. But, then why did the PM not sit with us even once after the meeting last month," Mr Hazare said.

At that meeting, social activists had asked to be included in the committee that will draft the bill. This request was rejected. "If the government alone drafts this bill, it will be autocratic not democratic, there will be discrepancies," Mr Hazare said.

Mr Hazare said that it’s regrettable that the views of eminent Indians and activists like Swami Agnivesh and retired Justice Santosh Hegde "were not considered important by the government."

April 5, !0 AM: Social activist Anna Hazare began his fast unto death at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Tuesday demanding implementation of Jan Lokpal Bill.Accompanied by Swami Agnivesh, Kiran Bedi, Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan  and other activists, Anna Hazare arrived at the Jantar Mantar to begin his fast unto death.

Hazare demanded that a joint committee consisting of 50 per cent of people’s representatives and 50 pc from the goernment should be formed to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill. Till the time the joint committee is not constituted, I shall continue to sit on fast, said Hazare.The Prime Minister’s Office on Monday night had requested Anna Hazare not to sit on fast unto death, but the latter rejected the appeal The PM’s appeal said: "The Prime Minister’s Office has noted with deep disappointment that Shri Anna Hazare, the noted social worker, is still planning to go ahead with his planned hunger strike.

"Shri Hazare and his colleagues had met the Prime Minister, the Law Minister and other senior officials on March 7, 2011. During the discussion that last more than one hour, the Prime Minister had told the group that “I appreciate and share your concern on corruption.”

 

"Shri Hazare and his group had presented the Prime Minister a draft of their proposal on a Lokpal. The Prime Minister offered and the group accepted a suggestion that a sub-committee of the Group of Ministers could interact and discuss the draft with the civil society activists.

"The Sub-Committee, headed by Shri A.K.Antony, met Shri Hazare’s colleagues but the interaction proved fruitless as the activists were insisting on the Government accepting their draft in full."The Prime Minister has enormous respect for Shri Hazare and his mission", the PMO statement said. PTI adds: Meanwhile, in his home state Maharashtra, there is growing support for social activist Anna Hazare.

During ’Gudi Padwa’ celebrations in Hazare’s village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, villagers displayed their support by putting up black clothes in on their ’gudis’ as a mark of protest against government.

Requests to Hazare by Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and MPCC president Manikrao Thakre to defer the fast were of no avail as the veteran Gandhian began his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.Activists of the ’India Against Corruption’ movement began a fast at Azad Maidan here, to support Hazare.

A rally of around 100 cars and bikes was organized from Shivaji Park in central Mumbai to Azad Maidan this morning, as a part of the protest."Several people have pledged their support via text messages and e-mails. Others are fasting at their homes or offices," Mayank Gandhi of NGO Jagrut Nagrik Manch said.

In the evening, activists will distribute pamphlets near the CST station to make citizens aware of the issue of corruption menace and the imperative need of the Lokpal Bill  with people’s participation," he said.

PTI