The article “Hazare movement & the Delhi drama” (April 22) was insightful and analytical. If the Lokpal bill is to be effective and foolproof, people and the media should extend full support to it. Vested interests are trying to derail and subvert the Anna Hazare movement by casting aspersions on the civil society members who are part of the 10-member drafting committee. Corruption in public life has assumed gargantuan proportions. It is the lack of political will that has prevented a law on Lokpal all these years.
K. Ramachandran,
Vriddhachalam
That even an officer of R.K. Raghavan's stature should sound pessimistic about the outcome of the movement against corruption started by Anna Hazare and supported by not only the media but also millions of common people, particularly the young “Twitter,” “SMS” and “Facebook” generation, is astonishing. Similar scepticism existed in Brazil when it wanted to introduce a bill in Parliament prohibiting citizens with two convictions from contesting elections. In spite of many parliamentarians objecting to the bill, it was made into a law, thanks to the huge support from people and NGOs.
I am sure if we have the will, we will find a way. Once a critical mass is reached, objections and pressures from MPs cannot stop the Jan Lokpal bill from becoming a law.
M.M. Ram Athreya,
Bangalore
Here is my reaction to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's question why there is no Dalit on the Lokpal panel. When the whole country is united in its fight against corruption, politicians should not try to steal the show for their benefit.
A few days ago, Amar Singh came up with a CD and Digvijay Singh started criticising the panel members. But the most surprising remark has come from Ms Mayawati. Is this the time to play caste politics? Corruption is growing with every passing day. Before its roots go deeper, let us uproot it.
Binay Kumar Sharma,
Hyderabad
Mr. Hazare praised Mr. Modi and clarified later that he only praised his development work. Many reports have pointed a finger at the Chief Minister and his government for the Gujarat riots, and the latest to make allegations against him is a police officer. Can genocide be overlooked in the interest of development?
Just because Kapil Sibal said the Lokpal bill will not help if children do not have the means for education, Mr. Hazare asked him to resign. I reiterate that for a country like ours, education should be the top priority. The RTI Act would not have been such a success but for education. And, lastly, why consider the CD an attempt to derail the process of the Lokpal bill? It could be so but why not verify the charges?
Azaz Hafiz Mani,
Bhagalpur
