Lok Sabha is all set to consider passage of Lokpal Bill from Tuesday as Anna Hazare mounts a fresh campaign for a strong and effective law.
Lok Sabha is all set to consider passage of Lokpal Bill from Tuesday as Anna Hazare mounts a fresh campaign for a "strong and effective" law with a three-day fast in Mumbai, amid signs that the civil society will escalate its protest in the days to come.
However, government remained unfazed saying Hazare's fast at a time when Parliament takes up the Bill will be construed as an "obstructionist" tactics. Congress has issued a three-line whip to its members to be present in the House tomorrow.
The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011, which also seeks to establish ombudsmen in the states besides the Centre, is listed for discussion for eight hours along with the Constitutional amendment bill for giving Constitutional status to Lokpal and Lok Ayuktas. The Whistleblowers Bill will also be taken up.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister PK Bansal asserted that the Lokpal bill that had been introduced is a product of wide-ranging consultations with civil society and political parties and called it a "fine piece of legislation" to provide for a strong Lokpal.
He also said that the Constitutional Bill, which requires a special majority for passage, would be put to voting only if it has required support.
74-year-old Hazare, who is suffering from viral infection, left Ralegan Siddhi for Mumbai where he will lead a three-day fast which will be joined by supporters across the country, including in the national capital.
He said the repeated volte-face by the government over the Lokpal bill had forced him to fast again.
"They formed a joint committee and then in the joint committee they did a U-turn. They formed a standing committee but the result was again a U-turn," he said in Ralegan Siddhi.
Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said in New Delhi that they could call off their 'jail bharo' agitation if government agrees to the four "non-negotiable" points raised by them in an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and MPs.
"In the open letter to the Prime Minister and MPs, Team Anna has asked for four changes, which are non-negotiable... for other changes we can continue our fight later," he said.
The demands were Lokpal and Lokayuktas should have power to suo motu initiate their own investigations, the obmudsman should be able to carry out independent probe, selection of Lokpal should be through consensus of selection panel and bringing lower bureaucracy under direct control of Lokpal.
"Anna will arrive in Delhi on December 30 for dharna outside a MP's house...it could be Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi's residence...It will depend on what transpires in Parliament. If there are indications that Parliament or the government is ready for amendments, then there will be no need for it (dharna)," Bhushan said.
Hazare said, "for 25 years we have been fighting corruption. Congress people feel that this movement is against them. Tell us, how many times in 25 years have we led movements against you?"
"After being asked not once but several times they (government) still don't create an anti-corruption law. Out of compulsion this movement has to be launched," he added.
Hazare said that the government had only brought one law against corruption since in years of Independence. He claimed that this for this single law he and others fight for ten years. Hazare claimed that his 'andolan' was against the tendency towards corruption.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}