Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Friday accused the government of “betrayal” in legislating an independent and strong Lokpal bill and warned the government of another prolonged agitation at the Ramlila Grounds if it went ahead with a “weak” Lokpal bill.
Separately, Aam Aadmi Party member Arvind Kejriwal charged the government with going back on its word with regard to specific demands on the Lokpal bill. “The government version of Lokpal is toothless. It is the first anti-corruption body in the world without independent powers to investigate,” he said, referring to the CBI and the CVC being kept out of the purview of the Lokpal.
At a press conference, Mr. Hazare rejected the amendments to the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill cleared by the Cabinet on Thursday. The fight against corruption would not be effective unless the government loosened its stranglehold on the CBI and the CVC. “The government control on them is causing corruption,’’ he said, citing examples of the 2G and Commonwealth Games scams and demanded that both be made autonomous like the Election Commission.
