The Right and the Left gave Anna Hazare company during his token fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday. Will this political participation force the Congress-led UPA to rework the Lokpal Bill and make it stronger as demanded by Team Anna? Citizens Speak Up
A debate on an open platform brings more transparency in the system
It was good to see many political leaders from opposition parties sharing the same platform with Anna Hazare and his team. The people’s movement has gained momentum and it is a step forward to have a strong Lokpal Bill.
Though many in their speech expressed their support for a strong Lokpal Bill, I felt that they were somewhat cautious to fully support the Jan Lokpal Bill. Politicians are power hungry and none of them would like to lose it for the sake of a social cause.
The leaders always say let the Parliament take the final decision on the bill as it is supreme. But these politicians must understand that the Parliament is for the people and by the people and should work in interest of people; it shouldn’t cater to a few people with vested interests. A debate on an open platform brings more transparency in the system.
The absence of Congress leaders from the recent debate, lead by Anna team, has exposed the government’s hidden agenda of bringing a weak Lokpal bill.
—Mahesh Kalge, IT professional
The govt is neck-deep in corruption, so it isn’t in favour of a strong bill
The public pressure on the government to push for a strong Lokpal has reached its ultimatum point and the UPA-II government is sensing it, but not willing to give up. After Independence, the government was in the process of bringing reforms, but today it is the people who want a change in the system of governance.
People are fed up with corruption and want a strong Lokpal Bill to tackle this menace. This has happened for the first time in our country that the people have come together to generate an anti-corruption movement of such magnitude.
The UPA-II allies are at present indecisive, which shows their unwillingness to fight corruption in the system. The government itself is neck-deep in corruption. The people who are demanding for a strong Lokpal are truly selfless. At least few opposition leaders came forward to show their solidarity for a strong Lokpal Bill. Though their support is not complete because they too have their conflict of interest, but still the effort is worth praising.
—Sushant Pol, student
The president and judiciary can be left out of the Lokpal ambit, but the PM should be included
The present government is not at all committed towards wiping out corruption. They are in a situation wherein they cannot outwardly deny their support for a strong Lokpal Bill, but their reaction till now to the Lokpal issue clearly indicates that they are not interested in bringing a positive change. What Anna and his team are demanding is surly going to open a pandora’s box of corruption and if that happens, the nation will only talk about scams and corruption.
The prime minister and the government employees should be brought under Lokpal; it will be unfair to leave them out. Especially, the C-level government employees are more prone to being corrupt. However, I feel that the president and the judiciary can be left out of the Lokpal ambit, but the prime minister should be included.
The Congress party and its UPA-II team are definitely scared with the recent people’s movement and opposition leaders’ support for the same. The government is trying to subvert the Jan Lokpal issue by proclaiming that the Parliament is supreme and the citizens must support the decision taken by it. I am, however, surprised that the opposition leaders are supporting for a strong Lokpal Bill.
—Murlidhar Patkar, senior citizen
Will the govt wake up and initiate change to free our nation from corruption?
Are the ‘people’ so trusting and naive to believe that this realignment of the various political heavyweights indicates an inclusion of the Lokpal Bill in their respective political agenda/manifesto? Or is it just a typical ‘opposition’ ploy to needle the UPA? Also, had the roles been reversed, would the same opposition leaders be advocating a speedy implementation within the Parliament?
A lot can be said in favour of or against the Lokpal, but what is important is to keep a check on corruption in our country. The government is vague and not in favour of a strong bill, which indicates that perhaps addressing corruption as a disease is not to its advantage.
Corruption is gradually but surely derailing the country in every possible way. However, the UPA is worried that the people’s movement for a strong Lokpal is paralysing the government. The bigger question is will the government wake up to reality and initiate the change that is required to free our nation from the clutches of corruption?
—Ashwini Dasgupta, citizen
Support of oppn leaders to Anna could be a ploy to gain political mileage
The presence of opposition leaders and their speech at the recent one-day agitation in New Delhi led by Anna Hazare and team, and the total absence of Congress and UPA-II leaders must be analysed whether the Anna team had only sent invitation to opposition leaders and not the government.
Sharad Pawar recently made a statement that that did not receive any invitation from Anna and his team to join the agitation.
The people’s movement has definitely received a boost with the support of the opposition leaders because they are public
figures with their own followers.
The presence of only opposition leaders at the current debate on Lokpal can also be seen an effort by them to gain political mileage and bring down the ruling party. The opposition’s voice on Lokpal might put pressure on the government, but the demand for a strong Lokpal Bill is a people’s movement. It is the public who is playing a pivotal role in the movement.
—Sachin Punekar, citizen
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