Ralegan Siddhi, Dec. 12, (ANI): Social activist and anti- corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who is on a indefinite hunger strike to press for the passage of the Lokpal Bill, said on Thursday the bill is neither on the government's agenda, nor on the opposition's radar, and added that both the BJP and the Congress would be equally blamed for not passing the bill.
"The select committee's report is lying in the Rajya Sabha for the past one year. They say that they will bring the Jan Lokpal Bill. But, was the Bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha, as Parliament is in session? The Bill is not on the agenda of the government. Even today, it is not on the agenda," he said
Responding to Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley's letter in which he had said the government is not serious about the Lokpal Bill, Anna said, "I had replied to Arun Jaitley's letter. He is the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha in the Parliament, what was he doing when the bill was not introduced for the past one year? Why didn't he raise his voice on this matter? This means both the BJP and the Congress have to be equally blamed for not bringing the Bill. I request all parties to support the Jan Lokpal Bill. They should support the bill, as it is for the betterment of society.
"It will send a wrong message to the public. It will not matter to me if I have to fast for three more days. I am here to sit for ten more days," he said on Kiran Bedi's suggestion to stop his fast for the next three days, and to continue it from Monday, when the bill is scheduled to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha.
On Bedi pledging her support to his agitation and joining his fast from Saturday, Anna said: "She's our team member, and, we don't have any problem with her involvement."
On Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas allegations that the government's version of Lokpal Bill is actually a 'Jokepal', he said: "After the bill is passed, we will request for a copy. Whether it is Lokpal or Jokepal, we will get to know only after it is passed. The Bill's earlier version was a Jokepal, but, after it went to the select committee of the Rajya Sabha, our issues were taken into notice.
The demand for the Lokpal Bill was seen as a revolutionary anti-graft movement, which in 2011 not only drew tens of thousands of Indians united against corruption onto the streets, but also stopped parliamentary proceedings and dominated the headlines for days on end.
But 18 months on, India Against Corruption (IAC) - a popular movement led by a group of the country's prominent social activists - have split due to the decision by some members to move from activism into politics.
The IAC movement, launched in December 2010, marked the first time in India that both the poor and the middle classes were united against corruption in such large numbers.
Over the past year, India has been transfixed by a campaign led by Anna Hazare to force the government to create an ombudsman, which would prosecute corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.
Hazare's initial hunger strike brought millions of sympathisers out on streets and forced the government into a series of humiliating U-turns.
But "Team Anna" had lost some steam. When Hazare launched his third hunger strike in Mumbai, just before the New Year, very few turned up and he had to call it off prematurely because he was ill.
The proposed bill envisages the setting up of a national anti-corruption watchdog to check financial mismanagement and corrupt practices that have deeply pervaded several democratic and civic institutions of India. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
