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Anna Hazare on indefinite fast, demands 'Jan Lokpal Bill'

 

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare 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 per cent 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 an appeal on Monday night from the Prime Minister's Office which expressed 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.

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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 solidarity 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.

 

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Comments
14 years ago B.K.GUPTA...

Clause 17 of proposed Jan Lokpal Bill is a brilliant gateway .So far as it exists and I am sure it would not be removed .It provides that matters subjudice would not be in the purview of Lokpal. Same was in Lokayukta Bill.


14 years ago Yelamanchili Prasad

Drafting and passing of 'JAN LOKPAL BILL' should not be a KNEE-JERK reaction to the great CRUSADER against corruption - Anna Hazare's FAST UNTO DEATH.Once it is passed this should be implemented in toto. This instrument should not become a skeleton in the cup-board. Yelamanchili Prasad, Advocate, Visakhapatnam. Mob. 09440977194


14 years ago Dr. Satyanarayan Soni

Beloved Indians, As today The Govt. of India agreed for Lokpal Bill and the hunger strike is exhausting, now following provisions needs tobe incorporated into the Lokpal Bill:- 1.Mumbai Bomb kind of Blast corruption- provision for death penalty. 2. All corruption cases, where charges proved must have life imprisonment without parole, 3. Burdon to prove innocent must be on accused. 4. All property of accused, wife, family and near relative, excess to known income must be declared as property of offence and must be seized within 24 hrs. 4. The family members who enjoy the corruption money must also be held co-accused and prosecuted, 5. The accused alongwith family members must be bound to declare his corruption sources and property, if failed the punishment must be doubled.6.Only chance of revision and one appeal be allowed, 7.Superfast track court must decide the case within 7 days. 8. Safe guards provision of Article 311 of Constitution must be closed for accused of corruption.9.Sec. 161 of CRPC must have provision of signature of witnesses, and if got hostile they must be treated as accused.10.Tribunal decision for quick dismissal of accused from service. These provisions are must to curb and controle corruption. Dr. Satyanarayan Soni, 38, Mitra Nagar Police, Colony Indore Road, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India Mob. 9425030615 Land line 07342527162


14 years ago niranjan

It is great courage of Mr.Annaji to go on fast against corruption.His action is just showing mirror to corrupt politicians and bureaucrates.


14 years ago RAJ KISHORE VAISH

Another division of nation on corruption .




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