New Delhi, November 29: Stepping up pressure on the Lokpal issue, Anna Hazare has decided to hold a dharna here on December 11 if the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s proposals on the Bill were not to his satisfaction.
Team Anna said the 74-year-old activist will lead a day-long protest at Jantar Mantar if the Standing Committee does not come up with strong provisions in the Bill.
“It all depends on the Standing Committee’s proposals. Anna is planning to sit on a protest in Jantar Mantar on December 11 depending on the Standing Committee’s recommendations,” a senior Team Anna member said.
“Please join the dharna at Jantar Mantar on December 11 for a strong Jan Lokpal,” Hazare was quoted as saying by his close aide Suresh Pathare.
The Parliamentary panel on Lokpal Bill is likely to submit its report before December 7. Team Anna has been insisting the lower bureaucracy, higher judiciary, provisions of the Citizen’s Charter and Lokayuktas at state level be brought under the ambit of the Bill.
Meanwhile, confusion prevailed over Hazare’s protest plans at Ramlila Maidan from December 27 with MCD Standing Committee Chairman Yogender Chandolia saying the civic body has not given permission for the agitation even as Team Anna insisted it has got the nod.
“No permission has been given yet,” Chandolia, a senior local BJP leader, said when asked about claims by Team Anna that it has been given the nod to use the Maidan from December 27 to January 5 for a protest in case the bill is not passed during Parliament’s winter session.
However, a senior MCD official said permission has not been denied. “We have received an application from Team Anna saying it wants to book the Maidan,” he said.
Team Anna member Manish Sisodia said, “We have sought permission from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) from December 27 and we have been granted permission to use the ground till January 5.”
Team sources said they have permission from MCD “subject to an NoC” from the Delhi Police. “The permission is subject to an NoC from the police. We have a written commitment from MCD in this regard,” they said.
According to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, chairman of the Standing Committee, 25 issues including those concerning media, corporates, NGOs, lower bureaucracy and citizens grievances have been “comprehensively dealt with” by the panel.
The Committee, scrutinising the Lokpal Bill, had on November 24 ended its internal deliberations with “broad consensus” on most issues including giving constitutional status to Lokpal.
Meanwhile, Team Anna member Neeraj said Delhi Police has been formally approached for permission to hold protests at Ramlila Maidan from December 27 to January 5.
He said Team Anna on November 23 had submitted a request to an assistant director of MCD asking for permission to use maidan.
In his reply, the official replied the maidan was available for that period and that he needed a ‘no objection certificate’ from the police, Neeraj said.
“Today, we have submitted a letter to the Delhi Police in Daryaganj. We have said since the MCD is ready to give us the ground, you issue us an NoC,” he said.
Team Anna members and supporters held silent protests across the Capital today to press for the passage of a strong Lokpal Bill.
–Agencies