New Delhi, Dec 23 (ANI): Hitting out at veteran social activist Anna Hazare and his aides for opposing the Centre's Lokpal Bill draft, Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid has said it would not be fair for civil society activists to blame the government if the anti-graft bill is delayed.
"More people would give their opinion as time goes by. We will have to incorporate maximum number of opinions in one form or other in the democratic set up. It wouldn't be fair for them (Team Anna) to blame us if we move away from their version of the Bill in doing so," said Khurshid.
Hazare has expressed his disappointment over the government Lokpal Bill, and termed it to be weak.
"Corruption will not be eradicated till the corrupt are not punished and sent to prison. In the Lokpal Bill presented by the government, there is no provision of sending corrupt officials to prison. Then how will graft be removed? That is why it is weak draft legislation. Even on the issue of including the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) under the Lokpal, why is the government so afraid and hesitant?" Hazare told the media at his native village Ralegan Siddhi on Thursday.
"I think that if the CBI is brought under the Lokpal, then many ministers and leaders will be queued up for imprisonment. This is why the government is scared," he added.
Hazare further rued about the lack of strong deterrence measures in the anti-graft Bill.
"If corrective action is not taken within 30 days after a citizen complains against inaction in a government office, the guilty official must be punished as a deterrent. The government has not included this aspect either in the Lokpal Bill. How will the poor masses get justice?" asked Hazare.
"Among the A, B, C, D classes of government officials, it is important that group C and D officials are brought under the Lokpal. It is because of them that a poor person cannot get any work done without greasing the palms in a government office," he added.
The veteran social activist further confirmed that he would go ahead with his plan of undertaking a three-day from December 27 if the government does not formulate and enact a strong Lokpal Bill.
"If the Parliament does not decide in our favour, then we will begin our campaign from December 27. We will also conduct campaigns during the upcoming provincial polls across the country. Finally, we will hold massive agitations across India during the general elections," said Hazare.
The government tabled the much-awaited Lokpal Bill in Parliament on Thursday. The Union Cabinet had earlier on Tuesday approved the Bill for creation of the Lokpal with Constitutional status.
The fresh Bill allows the Lokpal to oversee investigation of cases referred by it by the CBI. But, the Bill clearly mentions that CBI will continue to be under the government's administrative control. (ANI)
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