Adopting a flexible approach to the government's Lokpal Bill, the former Karnataka Lokayukta, Santosh Hegde, suggested on Saturday that Team Anna allow the Centre to pass the Bill in “some form” after conceding some points.
“Today [on Saturday], I spoke to some members of Team Anna and suggested that they allow the government to pass the Bill in some form after conceding some points,” Mr. Hegde, also a Team Anna member, told PTI on the phone from Mangalore.
He suggested that Team Anna concede the power of Jan Lokpal by allowing the CBI to probe only those complaints coming to it but not compromise on the demand to bring the CBI under the Jan Lokpal while probing the Lokpal-related complaints. “There should be no compromise on bringing the CBI under the Jan Lokpal, but the former should be allowed to investigate complaints directly coming to them.”
But Mr. Hegde said he did not agree with some points and stands taken by some Team Anna members. “I don't come out because the media may say there is a split in Team Anna.”
Mr. Hegde said he wanted to see the Lokpal Bill (with some concessions) passed in the winter session of Parliament as people waited for it for over four decades.
Reacting to Union Minister of State in the PMO V. Narayanasamy's remarks that the Lokpal issue would be dealt with an iron hand, he said it was not a sign of democracy. “I hope he [Mr. Narayanasamy] knows the meaning of the word ‘democracy'.”
“It is the people of India who have accepted democracy, not the politicians,” he said. The very first word in the Constitution says ‘We the people of India…',” Mr. Hegde said.
Asked whether he would join Anna Hazare's fast beginning in Mumbai on December 27, Mr. Hegde said: “I have commitments till December 29.”
