Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and historian K N Panikkar on Friday raised questions on Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement, accusing him of adopting an “authoritarian” approach in selecting civil society members in the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill.
They also took exception to Hazare’s praise of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as one cannot ignore the menace of “communal corruption” and said the anti-graft legislation proposed by his group was “flawed” as it gave overriding powers to a group of people.
“Methods adopted by Hazare to press his demand have an element of coercion, as he has left no room for discussion, debate and exchange of views. There is no true representation of civil society in the joint committee. He has adopted an authoritarian approach,” Bhatt told a joint press conference in New Delhi on Friday.
Panikkar said the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill was “full of flaws” as it gave overriding powers of investigation and punishment to a group of people. “The real problem is the centralisation of authority. This has not been addressed by the Bill,” he said, expressing fears that the legislation would create a “permanent state of emergency” as it went against the principles of democracy.
