New Delhi: Anna Hazare has now been fasting for 12 days. He has clearly stated that to end his hunger strike, Parliament must debate and pass a tough anti-corruption law based largely upon a draft prepared by his team of activists. That debate - on the Jan Lokpal Bill - will begin today at 11 am. It was meant to start on Friday afternoon, but was postponed after the BJP insisted that the discussion must lead to a vote. A compromise has been worked out - the debate will begin with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee sharing the government's stand on what's intended as a historic piece of legislation. (Read: Who is Anna Hazare?) | (Read: What is Jan Lokpal Bill?)
74-year-old Anna has not eaten in 12 days; he has lost seven kilos; his associates say he is looking weak. His agenda is for his team's vision of the Lokpal - an independent agency that will combat corruption among public servants - sanctioned by law. While Anna and his associates have developed what's referred to as "the Jan Lokpal Bill," there are other drafts of the same bill, including one prepared by the government.
There was another late-night meeting on Friday at Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid's residence. It was also attended by Sandeep Dikshit. Team Anna was represented by Medha Patkar and Prashant Bhushan and Indore-based spiritual leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj.
Emerging out of the meeting, Patkar hoped there will be unity and consensus in Parliament on the three key demands raised by Hazare, whose fast enters the 12th day today. "We hope there is a consensus on the three key issues. We want unity in Parliament whether the debate takes place under Rule 184(that entails voting) or Rule 193," she said. Ms Patkar said the main thrust of the discussions with Mr Khurshid and Mr Dikshit related to the Parliamentary procedures during the debate.
While the government was hammering out a deal for the debate with the Opposition, it's also hoping for a breakthrough with Team Anna. The Gandhian and the PM have both written to each other. Anna explained he has three must-have features which have to be approved by Parliament. (Read: Lokpal debate - Resolution suggested by Team Anna) | (Read: Anna writes to PM to explain his stand)
"My soul tells me, if there is consensus in the Parliament on these three sticking points then I will call off my fast," he said. (Read: Anna will fast till Lokpal includes 3 major points)
So far, the government has said it will put these points up for debate, but cannot guarantee they will be approved by other parties. Sources say a letter from the Prime Minister will be sent to Anna after Parliament debate is over. The government is expecting that Anna will to call off his fast after the debate and receiving letter from the Prime Minister.
Arun Jaitley of the BJP said that his party had formally proposed nine specific points for debate; he said the government's proposal for the debate (or "the resolution," in Parliamentary terms), offered little more "than an agenda for a seminar on the three different versions of the Lokpal Bill." His party's Sushma Swaraj said she was barely given five minutes' notice by the Speaker this afternoon when the government tried to begin the Lokpal debate. "Such an important matter...treated so casually...what sort of message are you giving the country?" she asked. Ms Swaraj said the government has to explain its points of agreement and dispute with Anna's bill, and update other parties formally on the status of the negotiations with the anti-corruption campaigner. (Read: Why BJP wanted a debate followed by vote)
The Lokpal Bill also saw a rare statement delivered in Parliament by Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi. "I thank Annaji for articulating the people's sentiment," said the Congress General Secretary, accepting that corruption is an issue that people all over the country have raised with him. However, Mr Gandhi was also aggressive about the need to respect Parliamentary procedures. "I doubt that just a Lokpal law will tackle corruption," he said, suggesting that "let us fortify the Lokpal Bill by making it a constitutional body like the Election Commission." (Watch: Rahul's speech on corruption, Anna) | (Read: Rahul thanks Anna, but warns of dangerous precedent)
Mr Gandhi also stressed, "We must not weaken the democratic process which is lengthy and elaborate, but is inclusive and fair...a process that is divorced from democracy sets a dangerous precedent." (Read: Text of Rahul's entire speech) | (Read: Team Anna reacts to Rahul Gandhi's speech)
As Parliament gets ready to debate Anna's bill, once again, it's union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who is serving as the go-between for the government and Anna. His two terms as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, which is Anna's home state, have allowed Mr Deshmukh an easy rapport with the Gandhian.
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. (Read: International reports on Anna)
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.
74-year-old Anna has not eaten in 12 days; he has lost seven kilos; his associates say he is looking weak. His agenda is for his team's vision of the Lokpal - an independent agency that will combat corruption among public servants - sanctioned by law. While Anna and his associates have developed what's referred to as "the Jan Lokpal Bill," there are other drafts of the same bill, including one prepared by the government.
There was another late-night meeting on Friday at Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid's residence. It was also attended by Sandeep Dikshit. Team Anna was represented by Medha Patkar and Prashant Bhushan and Indore-based spiritual leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj.
Emerging out of the meeting, Patkar hoped there will be unity and consensus in Parliament on the three key demands raised by Hazare, whose fast enters the 12th day today. "We hope there is a consensus on the three key issues. We want unity in Parliament whether the debate takes place under Rule 184(that entails voting) or Rule 193," she said. Ms Patkar said the main thrust of the discussions with Mr Khurshid and Mr Dikshit related to the Parliamentary procedures during the debate.
While the government was hammering out a deal for the debate with the Opposition, it's also hoping for a breakthrough with Team Anna. The Gandhian and the PM have both written to each other. Anna explained he has three must-have features which have to be approved by Parliament. (Read: Lokpal debate - Resolution suggested by Team Anna) | (Read: Anna writes to PM to explain his stand)
"My soul tells me, if there is consensus in the Parliament on these three sticking points then I will call off my fast," he said. (Read: Anna will fast till Lokpal includes 3 major points)
So far, the government has said it will put these points up for debate, but cannot guarantee they will be approved by other parties. Sources say a letter from the Prime Minister will be sent to Anna after Parliament debate is over. The government is expecting that Anna will to call off his fast after the debate and receiving letter from the Prime Minister.
Arun Jaitley of the BJP said that his party had formally proposed nine specific points for debate; he said the government's proposal for the debate (or "the resolution," in Parliamentary terms), offered little more "than an agenda for a seminar on the three different versions of the Lokpal Bill." His party's Sushma Swaraj said she was barely given five minutes' notice by the Speaker this afternoon when the government tried to begin the Lokpal debate. "Such an important matter...treated so casually...what sort of message are you giving the country?" she asked. Ms Swaraj said the government has to explain its points of agreement and dispute with Anna's bill, and update other parties formally on the status of the negotiations with the anti-corruption campaigner. (Read: Why BJP wanted a debate followed by vote)
The Lokpal Bill also saw a rare statement delivered in Parliament by Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi. "I thank Annaji for articulating the people's sentiment," said the Congress General Secretary, accepting that corruption is an issue that people all over the country have raised with him. However, Mr Gandhi was also aggressive about the need to respect Parliamentary procedures. "I doubt that just a Lokpal law will tackle corruption," he said, suggesting that "let us fortify the Lokpal Bill by making it a constitutional body like the Election Commission." (Watch: Rahul's speech on corruption, Anna) | (Read: Rahul thanks Anna, but warns of dangerous precedent)
Mr Gandhi also stressed, "We must not weaken the democratic process which is lengthy and elaborate, but is inclusive and fair...a process that is divorced from democracy sets a dangerous precedent." (Read: Text of Rahul's entire speech) | (Read: Team Anna reacts to Rahul Gandhi's speech)
As Parliament gets ready to debate Anna's bill, once again, it's union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who is serving as the go-between for the government and Anna. His two terms as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, which is Anna's home state, have allowed Mr Deshmukh an easy rapport with the Gandhian.
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. (Read: International reports on Anna)
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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