Social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday appealed to the Union Cabinet to come out with a Lokpal Bill that has “the right structure and strong foundation.”
Asserting that the government's version of the Bill that was presented in the joint drafting committee meeting fell short of people's expectations, Mr. Hazare said it did not address the day-to-day corruption faced by the common man.
In the expectation that the draft Bill will come up in the meeting of the Union Cabinet on Thursday, Mr. Hazare urged the Cabinet to “change the history of India” by sending a strong Lokpal Bill to Parliament.
“It is a rare opportunity for the United Progressive Alliance government to change the history of India. We sincerely appeal to the Union Cabinet to present a strong Lokpal Bill in Parliament,” he said.
According to joint drafting committee member Arvind Kejriwal, Parliament would be able to rectify anomalies in a draft bill that has a strong base. “But if the structure is weak, the Bill will remain ineffective.”
The civil society members had sought setting up the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in the States through the same Bill. They also raised questions about the structure of the Lokpal — whether it would be an 11-member body with all the powers concentrated in it or with delegated powers and functions.
Also, there were questions about the Lokpal's jurisdiction on the entire bureaucracy and on merger of the CBI's anti-corruption branch with the Lokpal.
“The government claims that it wants to tackle high-level corruption. However, none of the large scams of recent times like the Adarsh Housing scam, the Commonwealth Games scam, the Reddy Brothers mining scam, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha scam, the cash-for-vote scam, the fodder scam or the Taj corridor scam is covered by the government's Lokpal,” pointed out Prashant Bhushan, also a panel member.
Mr. Hazare has threatened to go on indefinite fast if the government failed to take to Parliament a strong and effective Lokpal Bill.
However, perceptions differ on what is a “strong and effective” Lokpal.
Keywords: Lokpal Bill, social activist Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, drafting committee, Government draft, monsoon session, Parliament session
All said and done.. in a country like ours where corruption starts right from every individual.. we bribe traffic police to be let off for speeding , we pay donations to schools for admitting our child, we show false bills to claim money from our organizations, we save taxes in the wrng way.. now we are thinking aloud. I feel anti corruption should start right from every individual first.. its all in the mind and not of politicians but every individual.. Unless the change is first made in me.. the change I wish to see in you will not happen. So what are we doing about that.. Lets first be a true and patriotic Indian. Cure the root cause and not just the superficial disease. Lets accept the fact first.. that we are a nation where corruption is in our blood..The very small instance where I do shoddy office work to finish it off, is no different than bad road construction,its a type of corruption. THis, my friends, needs to change first for a Lokpal to succeed.
A Government official is a representative of people in the country, NOT A KING. So dont go around misusing your powers. If that happens, the response from the people will be very very strong. People trusted you to do your JOB as a Government Official. People are starting to react to your mischievous actions and we hope its not a revolution.
Honourable Soniaji and Honourable Prime Minister
Please do not loose this opportunity to give posterity the Best Lokapal Bill. Please ensure all members of Lokpal are selected by totally independent panel which may include P.M.,CVC,Leader of Opposition,and a Judge of supreme court.
You must include all members of burocracy, all members of judiciary except supreme court judges, and the PM office as well.
Sincerely hope you will to us all the most effective Lokpal Bill.
regards
A certain amount of recklessness is prevailing in politics which is not allowing a strong LOKPAL Bill to be in place to increase fear of action in the corrupt.There should be a mass movement in support of efforts to eliminate corruption in the country.
Why the ministers are still sitting in the parliament? They have already lost people's faith. Corrupt politicians have no place in democracy. Ministers should read the writing on the wall. It is now clear that people will no more telerate corrupt practices. I understand the fear being felt by corrupt netas and babus who know very well that once the Jan Lokpal bill drafted by Team Anna comes into effect, almost every minister's permanent address will be the high security cell of Tihar, Jail Road, Janakpuri, New Delhi. People are awake now. They are determined to crush this UPA government which is corrupt to the core. In the coming months, people of this country will teach this fraud government a permanent lession. The entire media must come forward to vehemently support the cause raised by Annaji and Ramdevji in our great national interests.
All Indians should support Anna Hazare. It's a right opportunity.
Team Anna Hazare has undoubtedly drafted a solid and strong Jan Lokpal Bill which has the right structure and strong foundation. UPA's cabinet has approved Lokpal Bill which is neither strong, nor people friendly. People of India have identified Anna Hazare as the noble Gandhian personality who has ushered in a new era of awareness among the common masses on India. Enormous amount of black-money has been stashed abroad in tax havens by influencial politicians, bureaucrats, business tycoons and many other tax evaders. Sooner or later India is heading towards bankruptcy and not much will be left for sustainable growth for the present and future generations. UPA government has been passive for the last over 40 years. Certainly keeping reservations of PM, and other ministers, sr. bureaucrats etc. out of the ambit of Lokpal Bill is indeeed a crafty move to maintain escape roots for the corrupts. Let us all follow the noble and straight path shown to us by Anna. Wake India!
The scope of the proposed bill is very limited. Major areas of corruption which affect the common men have not been covered in it. For example corruption at Tehsils, hospitals,local courts,Ration Office, police stations, muncipal corporations, punchayats, etc where the day to public dealing take place and the culprits level start from Santry and goes upto MLA/MC etc is not coming under the purview of this so called Lokpal Bill. It is begining but cannot be termed as confident and good begining.
It's unthinkable that Lokpal Bill (ie.Indian Ombudsman) will supercede Indian Constitution which gives powers to Parliament in all matters relating to PMO and its decision-making. Who in the world, in todays India, will or can upstage the Parliament. Therefore, if future politics are going to be influenced by this Lokpal Bill which the Cabinet has approved now, it's function of Parliament to consent on advise of the PM. IMO corruption and whatnot can only be rinsed out of Indian politics at all levels by investing in future youth leaders and education of the illiterate masses. There is no other alternative. Hanna Hazare is not the Mahatma who can deliver it: but only the Parliament of the sovereign people of India.
All are equal before God and the constitution. It is imperative that a really strong lokpal for the centre and lokayukta for the states are brought,without any more delay. Eexcluding the PM,higher judiciary and berauucrats and MPs(with in parliament) from the ambit of the bill will totally spoil the purpose of bringing the anticorruption act.
I completely agree with Anaa and his Team.
It is too much,every one know about Lokpal Bill but what can i do for. Anna hazare do more effort and every one with Anna but still it take time
Dear Honourable Ministers: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVTS REPs IN THE DRAFTING COMMITTE
Corruption is the bane of development everywhere , not only in India . And responsible Govts ,serious in curbing corruption and moving the country forward in the right direction usually move fast in establishing institutions and procedures to fight it. Corruption in India is spreading like cancer because we have no strong independent institution to deter or fight it . Institutions are organs of a country through which a Govt functions effectively and efficiently . Institutions are also very close to the people's daily life and malfunctioning institutions in India today ,due to uncontrolled corruption are directly responsible for making day-to-day lives very difficult for the people . Hence to start with , the people are demanding a strong JAN LOKPAL bill be passed to setup an institution that will atleast deter if not curb corruption in the various other institutions.The reluctance of the current Govt to listen to the voices of the masses and the media is against the spirit of representation in a Democratic countrys political system. Its the people of India who have put the current Govt in power and its the duty of the Govt to listen to the people . Moreover in any growing economy , like in India , the voices of civil society , local communities , reps of the poor and vulnerable and of women play a vital role and should be included at every level of decision making for growth of a just society . Not only is there nothing wrong if the impetus for change comes from outside, it is vital that the political system recognises that citizens have recourse to other means by which to make their anger felt.
If the Govt reps are claiming immunity on the pretext of the provisions contained in the Constitution of India, please come forward and make a public statement that "the Constitution has never been tampered with by the Govt of India till date and never will be." The constitution has been amended in the past and can be amended agan in the future , if its for the good of the country , like for a strong LOKPAL bill that the people are demanding. Such Institutional reforms are needed for India to graduate from a low income country to a high-income country . Institutional reform is also about placing the checks-and-balances in the system to make public institutions and public officials accountable to people. The Govt reps must not ignore such sane advice or voices from the people.
The corruption minesfield exposure by the Lokayukta in Karnataka over past few days, implicating almost every political party , makes it all the more imperative that we have a strong institution to tackle such cases of Corruption in the country that is wasting away the countrys resources for the benefit of a few.
Mr. Hazare and his team may demand anything, which would be the face of Indian people, but the present UPA-2 Government will never come-up with a strong Lokpal bill ambiting PM also since persons like Suresh Kalmadi are the members of their party and MMS (not elected by the vote of the people), Chidambaram (already lost the election in the court, but still in the chair by favour of SYQ) and also Kapil Sibal (habituated of telling a lie and applying Police force) are the key persons in the Government to ensure corruption in the country by its key leaders. As Mr. Manisankar Aier did not like all these, he has been thrown to dustbin by his party leaders.
for govt.- when you are opposing to bring present honest prime minister under lokpal , how would you bring a corrupt man under it.
Pls google "Independent Commission Against Corruption (Hong Kong)" to see how an effective Anti-corruption bill can change the course of a country.It has been already demonstrated by HongKong that in a corrupt country an Anti-corruption body run by the same corrupt people will be ineffective.
"The newly-formed Independent Commission Against Corruption was created to root out corruption; unlike the old police Anti-Corruption Branch, the new ICAC would be answerable to only the Governor of Hong Kong.Most ICAC operations staff were sergeants recruited from specifically UK police forces and were certainly not beyond sharp practices themselves. Their tactics and methods were often crude and aggressive in the extreme, often they would sweep down to a police station and take an entire shift in for questioning. Such questioning was often just a 'fishing exercise'. Ultimately though their shock tactics were effective." A model is already available. Don't try to re-invent the wheel.
As a citizens, I agree that the PM can be included after he demits office, and for Judiciary the Judicial Accountability bill should be covered to keep the independence of Judiciary. The PM must make sure that all State level Gazetted officers and Civil service officers are covered, without exception. Further all the District in the country must have special Fast track Lokpal Court, High Courts must have special bench for Lokpal cases, and the onus that the officer is not involved in corruption should rest on the accused. Lokpal must have absolute control over investigation and prostration through India including any and all States/ UT and only the 3 Judges Supreme court should have a right to here any issue in relations to Lokpal functioning. All Public sector company and financial institution and bank should also be covered under the lokpal act.
Perceptions about a strong and effective Lokpal may differ but the need- of covering everybody susceptible to corruption-does not! And this need alone is the best argument for not exempting any public servant- from PM, CJI down to those in the lowest rungs of the hierarchy- from the anti-corruption ombudsman. Hongkong has proved,almost 50 years ago, what such an effective ombudsman can do.
The last line seems to be added in haste/to neutralize Anna's claims about the UPA government's motives. A report no longer remains a 'report' if the reporter infuses his/her own personal opinions in it- Something that is taught to us in school! By trying to bring the CBI's anti corruption wing into Lokpal, Congress essentially seems to want to have 'its men' in the Lokpal, who'd be giving it updates and thwarting Lokpal's attempts to nab high profile leaders and politicians. I am shocked that none of the major print/media are scrutinizing the aspects of Government's version of the draft. When a critical analysis is done of the mining scam report, what is preventing papers like The Hindu from doing the same for the government's draft of Lokpal? It would be enlightening if Hindu carries out a point by point comparison of Anna's claims and UPA's claims- I'm sure the ulterior motives of UPA would be out if that is done..
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