Parliament reconvenes, Anna Hazare steps up pressure on Govt

Mangalore Today / NDTV

New Delhi, Dec 12:  Parliament has reconvened today and has nine working days left in this Winter Session. In that it has to discuss a draft Lokpal Bill tabled last week by a standing committee, gather consensus on the contours of that bill and then make it law.

Speaking a day after his one-day fast, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare raised the pitch once again saying he will fast again for a strong Lokpal.

 

 

At Jantar Mantar on Sunday, Anna Hazare had set the stage for the final act of the Lokpal Bill saga that he began scripting in April this year at the same venue. At his day-long token fast, as he described it, against the government’s intent to deliver a weak Lokpal Bill to combat corruption, Opposition parties shared the stage and vowed to fight for a strong and effective Lokpal. But, they said, that fight would happen in Parliament.

"Leave it to the wisdom of Parliament," said Left leader AB Bardhan.

Sharad Yadav of the JD(U) has suggested that the session can be extended or a special session can be called to ensure that Parliament debates the crucial bill thoroughly before passing it.

The Lokpal debate at Jantar Mantar, the venue of Anna Hazare’s one-day fast, has led to yet another face-off between the government and the Opposition over the issue.

Criticising the participation of Opposition MPs in a public debate on the Lokpal bill at a time when the Parliament is in session, Congress spokesperson Ambika Soni said, "In democracy there is a platform for discussion on every issue. Parliament is the best forum for discussion."

"Raising issues outside Parliament shows opposition’s double standards. This is not acceptable," added Ms Soni.

In its defence, BJP’s Ravishankar Prasad said,"Anna’s movement has created a new environment in the country. We do not need the Congress’ advice on the Parliament’s sanctity. We all know that laws will be passed in the Parliament but if the government runs away from a strong Lokpal, we will not spare it."

On the other side of the Winter Session, which ends on December 21, hangs Anna Hazare’s threat that he will launch an indefinite hungerstrike and campaign against the Congress wherever an election is held if the Lokpal Bill is not passed.

That threat will shape much of the strategy of the UPA government, which is in action mode. The Congress will seek the opinion of key allies like Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday where all points of contention will be discussed threadbare. Once the allies’ support is sewn up, the government will carry the UPA’s considered views as a political group into a meeting of all political parties the same day. In the hope that by the time the issue is discussed on the floor of the House, it has the approval of all sides and is unlikely to get derailed there.

A Cabinet discussion on Lokpal is scheduled for next Monday after the Prime Minister returns from Moscow.