The Lokpal debate: ‘Give CBI, CVC, ACB more powers’

In the era of high inflation, you cannot eradicate corruption merely by making stringent laws and appointing Lokpals. The government needs to change its method of working, make it simpler, and create a mechanism to prevent the new employees from joining the bribe culture. Also, how many such laws are they going to make? We already have the CBI, CVC, ACB and so on. Why not give them more powers to counter corruption? Will any Lokpal initiate an investigation if leads are found against himself?
— Nikhil Kharat, Navi Mumbai

There is already a lot of resentment among some alliance partners in the government and also among parties in the opposition against the inclusion of a few ‘civil society’ members in the joint-drafting panel while they (the alliance partners and the opposition) have been made to sit twiddling their thumbs on the sidelines. This is certain to boomerang on the Congress when the bill comes to Parliament. All indications are that the draft-bill will be torn to pieces beyond recognition, and a new bill be born as drafted by the MPs once it is discussed in the Parliament. It would have been better if Anna Hazare had been told about the stark reality when he was asked to end his Jantar Mantar fast.
—Dr VS Iyer, Thane

India needs a change. I strongly believe that anyone and everyone who stands up for this cause should be supported. But the government is beating around the bush by linking Baba Ramdev to saffron groups and political ideologues and also by labelling Anna Hazare as a fascist. It clearly shows how weak the Congress is in dealing with public outcry over such sensitive issues like corruption and black money. The government is using tactics to alienate all individuals and groups that have come out strongly in support of this cause. The most obvious question that comes up is whether the government has something to hide.
—Prashant Udupa, Thane

For India, the only solution to curb corruption is a change in our parliamentary system. The lone voice of an intelligent and practical man of integrity, AB Vajpayee, who suggested the presidential and two-party system (as in the USA), was not taken seriously during his tenure as PM. In India, our multiparty system is the root cause of corruption. A few elected members will prosper during the government’s formation. We have weakened the system and our PM. Many of us who are most critical of the government do not vote and let the vote banks formed by politicians select a government for us. The middle class is not an ethical group. We only study values in moral science classes in school. Can a Lokpal cleanse the rot?
—Eugene Lobo, Pune

It’s certainly right to rise against corruption, but I wonder if it’ll be appropriate to have an all-powerful Lokpal who is almost above all. Public outcry is good, but the same public is partial and does not stand up against injustice in other matters. What would be the methodology of appointing a Lokpal? We could not get a CVC who is beyond reproach, so how will we ensure that the Lokpal is beyond question? The BJP did not allow the Parliament to function with civilised and intelligent debates, but now it is projecting Ramdev as a saviour. We need to have a re-look at our own characters before a social revolution can really uplift this morbid society steeped in corruption.
—SK Adhikari, Mumbai

There’s no doubt that corruption in India has reached its rampant best. It’s extremely shameful to see that a country, whose people were once known for their morals and ethics, is today best known for corruption and the consequent spate of scams. And today if someone raises a voice against this, the government is all prepared to crush it. Should we call it the end of democracy in India, where the people are suppressed while Ajmal Kasab gets VIP treatment for killing people? The Lokpal Bill is the need of the hour. Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare will definitely lead to a corruption-free and fair system.
—Aishwarya Soni, Thane