New Delhi: In a new appeal to activist Anna Hazare to end his hunger strike against corruption, the Prime Minister said in Parliament today, "His point has been registered. I respect his idealism. Anna Hazare has become the embodiment of people's concern and disgust with corruption. I applaud him, I salute him." Dr Manmohan Singh said of the activist, whose fast has entered its tenth day, "His life is much too precious."
Dr Singh also offered a new approach to the conflicting versions of the Lokpal Bill which is the heart of the Anna crisis. He said Parliament can debate each draft, select the best features, and then send the compilation to a parliamentary committee for in-depth review. There are three drafts of the Lokpal Bill: one each by the government, Team Anna and Aruna Roy's group of civil society activists.
The Prime Minister's gesture of out-reach comes at a time when his government's negotiations with Anna's team have turned vertiginous. Both sides have expressed their frustration and distrust of each other. Talks have stalled after last night's meeting where the government was represented by Pranab Mukherjee and Salman Khursheed, and Anna by activists Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi.
Team Anna wants its anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill to be introduced in Parliament and put to debate without referring it to a parliamentary committee, which is standard procedure. Like the Opposition, it has asked the government to withdraw its version of the Lokpal Bill.
The Prime Minister said "We are open to all suggestions...for a Lokpal who is strong, effective and for which there is a national consensus. We have a bill that reflects the thinking of our government but we have an open mind and are open to persuasion."
In a brand-new offer from the government, the PM said Parliament can review the different versions of the Bill, select the best features of each, and then send them to the Standing Committee for scrutiny.
The emphasis on the Lokpal Bill has become critical for a country that has seen its government's corruption hit over-achiever levels. The Lokpal Bill is meant to create a new agency that will independently pursue complaints of corruption against bureaucrats, politicians and judges.
Team Anna says the government's draft provides for a malnourished Lokpal or ombudsman committee. The government in turn finds Anna's version delivers a body with ostentatious and authoritarian powers.
So far, Team Anna has said the government must withdraw its version of the Lokpal Bill and allow Parliament to directly review its Jan Lokpal Bill.
Acknowledging the association of his government with corruption, Dr Singh said, "the people are frustrated with corruption in public office." However, he severely reprimanded the Opposition for turning a debate on corruption into a personal attack on him. Responding to a speech made by BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi yesterday, Dr Singh said "he made it seem as if I am a fountainhead of corruption...that I have knowingly connived in the corruption of some of my colleagues."
Dr Singh said, "I am hurt but will not turn this into a forum for accusations." He added "In 20 years in Parliament, I have tried to serve this country to the best of my ability."
No comments:
Post a Comment