New Delhi: Anna Hazare has sent a letter to the Prime Minister explaining why he is unable to end his hunger strike. Anna, 74, has not eaten in 11 days; he has lost 7 kilos.
Dr Manmohan Singh and leaders of all major political parties have repeatedly appealed to him to conclude his fast. In his letter to Dr Singh, the Gandhian writes, "I haven't gone on a fast for a personal motive. The only way to prevent corruption is through the three provisions of the Lokpal Bill." He has also said that he apologises if any of his aides have used derogatory language about the PM. Given the debate about whether his team is undermining Parliament by dictating the contents of the Lokpal Bill, Anna told the PM that he has "the highest regard for Parliament which is a sacred temple of democracy".
The three features that Anna refers to are what his associates have listed as non-negotiables as Parliament gets set to debate the Lokpal Bill. Anna has said he cannot eat till the government assures him in writing that Parliament will accept these points. "Is it possible to bring all these three proposals to Parliament? I am not only hopeful but confident that all Parliamentarians will agree to these three proposals to provide relief to the common man who is suffering from corruption," Mr Hazare said.
The government has stressed that can only offer to introduce the three points for debate; it cannot commit to their acceptance on behalf of other parties since that would grossly violate parliamentary procedure.
Named for the anti-corruption, independent agency it grants, the Lokpal Bill exists in different versions. Anna's associates refer to their draft as the Jan Lokpal Bill or People's Lokpal Bill; the government's version, described as weak and self-serving by the Opposition and activists; a third version has come from Aruna Roy's group of activists; a fourth has been delivered by Jaiprakash Narayan and his NGO Jansatta. The Lokpal sanctions a committee of nine members to serve as an ombudsman.
The three features that Anna wants included in the final version of the Lokpal Bill include the replication of the Lokpal model in all states; a citizen's charter for all government departments that clearly lists penalties for under-performance; and the inclusion of junior bureaucrats for review by the Lokpal. Anna has said repeatedly that without these three factors, any Lokpal will not be able to help people fight corruption. Government servants "from the villages to every ministry" must be covered, he says, by the Lokpal.
Dr Manmohan Singh and leaders of all major political parties have repeatedly appealed to him to conclude his fast. In his letter to Dr Singh, the Gandhian writes, "I haven't gone on a fast for a personal motive. The only way to prevent corruption is through the three provisions of the Lokpal Bill." He has also said that he apologises if any of his aides have used derogatory language about the PM. Given the debate about whether his team is undermining Parliament by dictating the contents of the Lokpal Bill, Anna told the PM that he has "the highest regard for Parliament which is a sacred temple of democracy".
The three features that Anna refers to are what his associates have listed as non-negotiables as Parliament gets set to debate the Lokpal Bill. Anna has said he cannot eat till the government assures him in writing that Parliament will accept these points. "Is it possible to bring all these three proposals to Parliament? I am not only hopeful but confident that all Parliamentarians will agree to these three proposals to provide relief to the common man who is suffering from corruption," Mr Hazare said.
The government has stressed that can only offer to introduce the three points for debate; it cannot commit to their acceptance on behalf of other parties since that would grossly violate parliamentary procedure.
Named for the anti-corruption, independent agency it grants, the Lokpal Bill exists in different versions. Anna's associates refer to their draft as the Jan Lokpal Bill or People's Lokpal Bill; the government's version, described as weak and self-serving by the Opposition and activists; a third version has come from Aruna Roy's group of activists; a fourth has been delivered by Jaiprakash Narayan and his NGO Jansatta. The Lokpal sanctions a committee of nine members to serve as an ombudsman.
The three features that Anna wants included in the final version of the Lokpal Bill include the replication of the Lokpal model in all states; a citizen's charter for all government departments that clearly lists penalties for under-performance; and the inclusion of junior bureaucrats for review by the Lokpal. Anna has said repeatedly that without these three factors, any Lokpal will not be able to help people fight corruption. Government servants "from the villages to every ministry" must be covered, he says, by the Lokpal.
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