New Delhi, August 04: Anna Hazare and his supporters have threatened to burn copies of the Lokpal Bill draft that will be introduced by the United Progressive Alliance Government in Parliament, claiming that the anti-corruption legislation in its present form will not be able to tackle corruption.
Team Anna says it will burn drafts of the bill till August 16 when Hazare has decided to launch an indefinite agitation against the bill.
“To protest the unilateral, high handed decision of the Government, the copies of the bill will be burnt from today,” said Hazare supporter Arvind Kejriwal.
The Lokpal Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Thursday and may be sent to a standing committee for further amendments.
Hazare, trying to seek support for his version of the bill, has already written to all Members of Parliament claiming that the Government’s version is flawed.
However, the Congress said that the civil society should not concentrate its energy on burning the copies of the bill.
“Let there be fire in the belly, fire in the heart and not in Parliament. Let’s not burn copies. Let’s have faith in Parliament,” said Union law Minister Salman Khurshid.
The Opposition too, has slammed the Lokpal Bill as weak with senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha and National Democratic Alliance convener Sharad Yadav saying that the bill should be made stronger. Team Anna also got a shot in the arm with the BJP declaring that it wants the Prime Minister to be within the ambit of the Lokpal, a key demand of the civil society activists.
“For judiciary, there is a separate accountability bill. Judiciary can be kept separate. They say action can not be taken till the time one is the prime minister. What happens if one comes back as the prime minister after two years. Will the proceedings against him stop? This is a weak bill,” said Sinha
He also questioned the composition of the selection committee.
“We have seen in the selection of the Central Vigilance Commissioner there can be grave mistakes. Government can not be given complete responsibility,” he said.
Yadav supported Sinha and called for more powers to the proposed Lokpal.
“Even I agree the Lokpal bill which is be presented today is weak. I have received Anna’s letter. I agree the Lokpal bill should be stronger,” he said.
–Agencies