[rtitimes] (Govt.) Lokpal Bill lacks teeth, as such Anna Hazare sat on Fast unto Death, demanding 'Jan Lokpal Bill'

Tue,05 Apr 2011 North India Anna Hazare on indefinite fast, demands 'Jan Lokpal Bill' Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, April 05, 2011 Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday began a fast-unto-death in the capital demanding enactment of a comprehensive Jan Lokpal Bill to give wider powers to Ombudsman to check corruption. Joined by scores of people including noted reformist Swami Agnivesh, former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey, 72-year-old Hazare began his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. "I will observe fast-unto-death till the government agrees to form a joint committee comprising 50% officials and the remaining citizens and intellectuals to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill," Hazare said at Rajghat. He then proceeded to India Gate in an open jeep where tricolour waving supporters, including school students were present. Hazare went ahead with his agitation despite the Prime Minister's Office last night expressing disappointment over his decision to go on fast unto death. The PMO release said that the Prime Minister has enormous respect for Hazare and his mission. "The Prime Minister says we trust you (Hazare), we respect you. But, then why did the PM not sit with us even once after the meeting last month," Hazare said. The anti-corruption crusader said he was disappointed after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in the last meeting with social activists over the proposed law to tackle corruption rejected their demand for a joint committee. "If the government alone drafts this bill, it will be autocratic not democratic, there will be discrepancies," Hazare, who has observed fast to protest against corruption many times in the past too, said. He lamented that views of eminent persons like Justice (Retd) Santosh Hegde, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and Agnivesh "were not considered important by the government". Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav, who was present to show solidarty with Hazare, said he was convinced that the Jan Lokpal Bill was the need of the hour to tackle corruption in the country. "Just as Election Commission and Supreme Court are effective bodies, similarly an institution which is to fight corruption has to be equally powerful," Yadav said "I approve of the draft prepared by Hazareji and others. I am willing to back it in Parliament," Yadav said. (Govt.) Lokpal Bill lacks teeth, activists fume Rupashree Nanda , CNN-IBN Updated Apr 05, 2011 at 11:19am IST http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lokpal-bill-lacks-teeth-activists-fume/148256-3.html New Delhi: Under the Lokpal Bill in its current form, the Lokpal cannot investigate the Prime Minister on issues of defence and external affairs, nor does it have any jurisdiction over Parliamentarians. Apart from activists, putting pressure on the Government is National Advisory Council, which is taking a keen interest in the Bill. Veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare has made his intent clear. "I will go on a fast and will not return to Maharashtra until the Lokpal Bill is passed," he said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, aware of the deep potential for embarrassment, has already appealed to the veteran leader not to go on a fast. In its current form the Lokpal will not have powers to enquire into matters suo motto and would need the recommendation of the Speaker. It will not be able to act against Members of Parliament it finds guilty of corruption, in fact, its findings can also be rejected. Only retired judges are allowed to be members, which excludes a whole lot of other people. The present disagreement is over the formation of a joint committee. While the Government says there is no precedent, activists point out that it has happened in Maharashtra before. Civil society activists have presented their own form calling it the Jan Lokpal Bill. "The GoM on the Lokpal Bill has Sharad Pawar and Kapil Sibal, who never see corruption anywhere," said activist Arvind Kejriwal. What is adding to the pressure on the Government is that Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council has also taken a keen interest in the Bill. "If there is a difference in opinion in the approach to the Bill, democracy is the process of really harmonising those differences and then coming to a best possible solution that a bill can offer," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewati. For Manmohan Singh, with his emphasis on a clean image already in tatters, the Lokpal controversy is going to be a tight rope walk. 'India against Corruption' member Anna Hazare on fast unto death over Lokpal Bill http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-against-Corruption-member-Anna-Hazare-on-fast-unto-death-over-Lokpal-Bill/articleshow/7872271.cms IANS | Apr 5, 2011, 11.20am IST NEW DELHI: Thousands of people joined veteran social activist Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi on Tuesday as he began his "fast unto death" to press for a stronger anti-graft Lokpal Bill through greater involvement of civil society in its drafting. Waving Indian flags and placards in support of a more effective anti-corruption law, the supporters gathered at Rajghat memorial to Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday morning, where Hazare paid his homage to the Mahatma before starting the hunger strike. Supporters also thronged India Gate and Jantar Mantar, as the activist finally sat for his fast. "I am going on a fast because we want representation from civil society in drafting the Lokpal Bill, 50 percent from civil society and 50 percent from government. If government frames the bill without people's participation, it will not be democracy, it will be bureaucracy," Hazare told reporters before embarking on his fast at Jantar Mantar. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday expressed "deep disappointment" over Hazare's decision to go ahead with the planned hunger strike, but said he had enormous respect for the social worker and his mission. However, Hazare said if the Prime Minister respected him, he should have met the activists. "Prime Minister says I have faith and respect for you...why didn't he sit for discussion even for one day with us?" the Magsaysay awardee asked. Hazare, who had announced an indefinite hunger strike more than a month ago, has been demanding representation from civil society in drafting of the anti-graft Lokpal bill. Though the activists could not meet the Prime Minister, their meeting with a committee of ministers constituted to look into the bill failed to resolve the deadlock as the government did not accept their demand for including civil society members in drafting the legislation. Hazare's supporters at Jantar Mantar included people from all walks of life, from students to activists and professionals. "I am here because Anna is risking his life for making the country corruption free," said Ramesh Rajpal, who came to Jantar Mantar from Gurgaon to support the hunger strike. Most of the people who joined the rally are also observing fast. "If we can come on the streets to celebrate the World Cup victory, why can't we come out to support Anna. It is a struggle to make the country clean," Delhi University student Srikant Jaiswal said. Those accompanying Hazare include Right to Information (RTI) activist Arvind Kejriwal and former top cop Kiran Bedi. Rejecting the Lokpal Bill prepared by the government as a toothless legislation, the activists are demanding that the government adopt the alternative Jan Lokpal Bill drafted by activist Arvind Kejriwal, former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde, and senior counsel Prashant Bhushan. The Jan Lokpal Bill, which has been drafted after widespread consultations among activists and common people all over the country, calls for setting up ombudsmen - Lokpal and Lokayuktas (in states) - independent of the government's control in order to check corruption in public life. Activists say investigations by ombudsmen should be completed in one year and there should be a minimum jail term of five years and maximum punishment of life imprisonment. The government's version, however, recommends a prison term of a minimum six months and a maximum punishment of seven years for corruption.    TRUTH SHALL ALWAYS PREVAIL http://www.freelists.org/list/rtitimes Milap Choraria: National Convenor : Movement for Accountability to Public (MAP) http://milapchoraria.tripod.com/msp