Lokpal debate: '‘Samarth ko dosh na hoi’'

The common man has high expectations from the Lokpal Bill. However, in my view, the government should first put in order the entire judicial machinery. There are over 3.5 crore pending cases in various courts of the country. Simple cheque bouncing cases pending in Mumbai alone add up to over 3 lakh. Matters drag in courts for decades, with adjournments granted on flimsy grounds. The judicial process must first be speeded up. The number of permissible appeals should be restricted to just one for civil cases and two for criminal cases (involving imprisonment, hanging, etc). If necessary, the Constitution should also be amended for the speedy disposal of cases.
—RR Shenoy, Thane

The Lokpal Bill is the ray of hope for an India plagued by corruption. In a democracy, all are equal. Hence the PM should be brought under the purview of the bill. The argument that the PM would be shackled by the bill is wrong. If he is honest and sincere, he can take bold decisions without fear of the Lokpal Bill. Corruption percolates down from the top. Therefore, the top bosses should come forward and prove their honesty and integrity.  Ministers, the PM,  MPs, MLAs, MLCs, judges, the CJI, bureaucrats, top bosses of public and private companies should also be brought under the purview of the bill. The CVC and the CBI should be brought under the wings of the Lokpal Bill.               
—KP Mandal, Pune

We are living in a wonderland called India. I have crisscrossed the world and have just returned from China but I do not find any reason to be a proud Indian. Tulsidas has said: “Samarath ko dosh na hoi gosain”. That means the mighty can do any damn thing and get away with it. Law of the land is meant only for those who follow it. By and large, every Indian barring a handful is dishonest and corrupt. If anybody says Lokpal is a panacea for dishonesty or corruption, he is living in a fools’ paradise. The motive of the people associated with the crusade is not clear. Hazare has systematically and selectively targeted a few ministers as if the others are spotless. It is not clear what made Ramdev agitate when Hazare has just ended his fast. It is apparent that Ramdev wants to show his power as he is about to contest elections.
—Major Ram Patil, Pune

How can the prime minister be brought under the purview of the Lokpal Bill? His political enemies may try to pull the government down by implicating him in a false case. Why target only the PM? The chief ministers and assembly speakers should also be made accountable. If the PM has to come under the purview of the Lokpal Bill, so should the judiciary, the chief ministers and the speakers. Only then will the legislation be a fair one.
—Manu Nair, Bangalore

Why is the government of India afraid of Baba Ramdev? He is not a politician, only a sanyasi. If he is creating trouble for the government, it should look for its cause and think of a remedy. Attacking him and his followers is no solution. The government should realise that Baba Ramdev has travelled throughout India and has ‘janmat’. So he cannot be wrong. He is following the path of non-violence. If anything goes wrong or if there’s an explosive reaction from the people, the government of India will be solely responsible.
—Tapeshwar Sahani, Navi Mumbai

This fasting business is pure blackmail. I support the fight against corruption, but expect the greatly learned to show the right way to go about it. Fasting is what anyone can do (not to say that it is easy). Corruption that has been part of our system for decades together cannot be eradicated within a few weeks. Everyone is using the campaign against corruption for political benefit. Gandhiji taught us satyagraha, but his fight was against the British who had military power. People should find other ways of protesting in a democracy.
—Deepak Kamath, Mumbai