New Delhi: The negotiations to end Anna Hazare's fast, which centres upon Parliament beginning a debate on his Jan Lokpal Bill, have lurched into a new danger zone. Anna has lost seven kilos; he has not eaten for 11 days. (Health update: Anna loses 7 kg, blood pressure ok)
The government has sent a message to the 74-year-old activist that Anna must guarantee that once the discussion begins, he will end his hunger strike which has now entered its 11th day. If he offers this assurance, the government is willing to start the Lokpal debate immediately. Once again, it's union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who is serving as the go-between for the government and Anna.
The Gandhian's associates say that he will not eat till Parliament approves three factors he has flagged as non-negotiable. While they concede the government has privately agreed to these, they want a formal consensus on these in Parliament from all political parties.
The first indication of a new crisis came from Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal who told reporters that the Jan Lokpal Bill was not scheduled for discussion today. However, three Congress MPs have given a notice in Parliament for the Jan Lokpal Bill. The debate will be held without a vote. (Read: What is Jan Lokpal Bill?)
Last night, the government spent many hours weighing the technicalities of a Lokpal debate. Law Minister Salman Khurshid had indicated that a debate today would focus largely on Anna's bill, with possible reference to other versions of the same bill.
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.
A debate on the Jan Lokpal Bill was offered yesterday by the Prime Minister in an attempt to persuade Anna to end his hunger strike. Anna responded to the offer by asking that the debate begin immediately. The message was sent by him through Mr Deshmukh, with who he shares a good rapport. (Read: PM offers new formula for ending Lokpal stand-off) | (Watch: PM's entire speech in Parliament)
The government has made it clear that while Anna's bill will dominate the debate, the other versions of the Lokpal Bill will also be discussed. The government has also refused to withdraw its own draft, despite requests from the Opposition and activists.
The government has sent a message to the 74-year-old activist that Anna must guarantee that once the discussion begins, he will end his hunger strike which has now entered its 11th day. If he offers this assurance, the government is willing to start the Lokpal debate immediately. Once again, it's union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who is serving as the go-between for the government and Anna.
The Gandhian's associates say that he will not eat till Parliament approves three factors he has flagged as non-negotiable. While they concede the government has privately agreed to these, they want a formal consensus on these in Parliament from all political parties.
The first indication of a new crisis came from Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal who told reporters that the Jan Lokpal Bill was not scheduled for discussion today. However, three Congress MPs have given a notice in Parliament for the Jan Lokpal Bill. The debate will be held without a vote. (Read: What is Jan Lokpal Bill?)
Last night, the government spent many hours weighing the technicalities of a Lokpal debate. Law Minister Salman Khurshid had indicated that a debate today would focus largely on Anna's bill, with possible reference to other versions of the same bill.
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.
A debate on the Jan Lokpal Bill was offered yesterday by the Prime Minister in an attempt to persuade Anna to end his hunger strike. Anna responded to the offer by asking that the debate begin immediately. The message was sent by him through Mr Deshmukh, with who he shares a good rapport. (Read: PM offers new formula for ending Lokpal stand-off) | (Watch: PM's entire speech in Parliament)
The government has made it clear that while Anna's bill will dominate the debate, the other versions of the Lokpal Bill will also be discussed. The government has also refused to withdraw its own draft, despite requests from the Opposition and activists.
No comments:
Post a Comment