NEW DELHI: Team Anna is a "victim of Congress politics", said activist Arvind Kejriwal Thursday, a day after talks between the government and activist Anna Hazare's group ended in a deadlock.
"We have become victims of internal politics of Congress. How many rounds of talks we have had with senior leaders like Kapil Sibal and Chidambaram but nothing has happened till now. Whom will we talk to?" Kejriwal said, even as Hazare's fast entered its tenth day Thursday.
There was no breakthrough Wednesday night in the talks between the government and Hazare's team for an anti-corruption law.
"There were strong indications that Annaji could be evicted from Ramlila Maidan early morning today (Thursday). As the issue was publicised nothing was done," Kejriwal told reporters here.
Hazare has been on fast since Aug 16, the day he was arrested and taken to Tihar Jail. He was released the same day, but he refused to leave. He shifted to Ramlila ground Aug 19 where he has been continuing with his fast.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Jan Lokpal Bill: We are victims of Congress politics, says Arvind Kejriwal
Saturday, August 20, 2011
10 differences between Jan Lokpal Bill and Govt Bill
The streets are witnessing a demand that the government's Lok Pal Bill be replaced by the Jan Lok Pal Bill (JLP) as drafted by the team led by Anna Hazare. There are several significant differences between the two bills. In this note, we describe the some of these differences.
First, there is a divergence on the jurisdiction of the Lok Pal. Both bills include ministers, MPs for any action outside Parliament, and Group A officers (and equivalent) of the government. The government Bill includes the Prime Minister after he demits office whereas the JLP includes a sitting Prime Minister. The JLP includes any act of an MP in respect of a speech or vote in Parliament (which is now protected by Article 105 of the Constitution). The JLP includes judges; the government Bill excludes them. The JLP includes all government officials, while the government Bill does not include junior (below Group A) officials. The government Bill also includes officers of NGOs who receive government funds or any funds from the public; JLP does not cover NGOs.
Second, the two Bills differ on the composition. The government Bill has a chairperson and up to 8 members; at least half the members must have a judicial background. The JLP has a chairperson and 10 members, of which 4 have a judicial background.
Third, the process of selecting the Lok Pal members is different. The JLP has a two stage process. A search committee will shortlist potential candidates. The search committee will have 10 members; five of these would have retired as Chief Justice of India, Chief Election Commissioner or Comptroller and Auditor General; they will select the other five from civil society. The Lok Pal chairperson and members will be selected from this shortlist by a selection committee. The selection committee consists of the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, two Supreme Court judges, two high court chief justices, the Chief Election Commissioner, the Comptroller and Auditor General and all previous Lok Pal chairpersons.
The government Bill has a simpler process. The selection will be made by a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the leaders of Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, a Supreme Court judge, a high court chief justice, an eminent jurist and an eminent person in public life. The selection committee may, at its discretion, appoint a search committee to shortlist candidates.
Fourth, there are some differences in the qualifications of a member of the Lok Pal. The JLP requires a judicial member to have held judicial office for 10 years or been a high court or Supreme Court advocate for 15 years. The government Bill requires the judicial member to be a Supreme Court judge or a high court chief justice. For other members, the government Bill requires at least 25 years experience in anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance or finance. The JLP has a lower age limit of 45 years, and disqualifies anyone who has been in government service in the previous two years.
Fifth, the process for removal of Lok Pal members is different. The government Bill permits the president to make a reference to the Supreme Court for an inquiry, followed by removal if the member is found to be biased or corrupt. The reference may be made by the president (a) on his own, (a) on a petition signed by 100 MPs or (c) on a petition by a citizen if the President is then satisfied that it should be referred. The President may also remove any member for insolvency, infirmity of mind or body, or engaging in paid employment.
The JLP has a different process. The process starts with a complaint by any person to the Supreme Court. If the court finds misbehaviour, infirmity of mind or body, insolvency or paid employment, it may recommend his removal to the President.
Sixth, the offences covered by the bills vary. The government Bill deals only with offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The JLP, in addition, includes offences by public servants under the Indian Penal Code, victimization of whistleblowers and repeated violation of citizen's charter.
Seventh, the government Bill provides for an investigation wing under the Lok Pal. The JLP states that the CBI will be under the Lok Pal while investigating corruption cases.
Eighth, the government Bill provides for a prosecution wing of the Lok Pal. In the JLP, the CBI's prosecution wing will conduct this function.
Ninth, the process for prosecution is different. In the government Bill, the Lok Pal may initiate prosecution in a special court. A copy of the report is to be sent to the competent authority. No prior sanction is required. In the JLP, prosecution of the Prime Minister, ministers, MPs and judges of Supreme Court and high courts may be initiated only with the permission of a 7-judge bench of the Lok Pal.
Tenth, the JLP deals with grievance redressal of citizens, in addition to the process for prosecuting corruption cases. It requires every public authority to publish citizen's charters listing its commitments to citizens. The government Bill does not deal with grievance redressal.
Given the widespread media coverage and public discussions, it is important that citizens understand the differences and nuances. This may be a good opportunity to enact a law which includes the better provisions of each of these two bills.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Jan Lokpal, magic wand to root out corruption, says Hegde
| Jan Lokpal Bill is the magic wand the prime minister has been looking to check corruption in the country, former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde said here on Wednesday. | |
 Addressing a large number of people at the Freedom Park, he said: “The Prime Minister’s search for the magic wand should not be a long one as he has it in the form of Jan Lokpal bill.”His 20-minute speech, which drew students from various parts of the City to Freedom Park, was received with frequent applause. As the City witnessed spontaneous response to the clarion call of Anna Hazare to join the ‘second struggle of independence’, Hegde’s words turned on the fervour in every citizen present at the Park showing their solidarity with the mass movement. Tech rally In Whitefield, over 100 software engineers took out a rally from the SAP Labs office to ITPL via L&T before returning to the starting point. “We believe that the Jan Lokpal Bill proposed by Anna Hazare is superior in terms of the content as compared to the diluted version of the Union government,” said Pradeep, a software engineer and organiser of the rally. Traders in busy Chikpet, Balepete, Akkipete and surrounding areas too joined the movement against corruption. As many as 6,000 shops pulled down their shutters in the area to express solidarity with Anna Hazare and his team. “Those who did not close shop today are nothing more than cowards. We have come together from Chikpet to show our support for Annaji. Corruption is seething in our system which needs to be wiped out,” said Narendra Singhvi, a businessman who owns an electrical shop. Lending support were also social organisations which came together for the cause. At Sadashivnagar, a cluster of NGOs dealing with social issues and women staged a protest against the arrest of Anna Hazare. Hundreds of activists from the Kannada Chaluvali Vedike, Lions Club of Bangalore, Tulu Koota and NIMA participated. | |
Jan Lokpal Bill: Support swells for Anna Hazare in Chennai
"Around 5,000 people visited the protest venue today (Wednesday) till 4 p.m. More office-goers are expected after the office hours," Bhavana Upadhyaya of India Against Corruption (IAC), the outfit backing Hazare, told IANS.
The IAC is holding protests at a construction site and people are fasting inside the multi-storied building.
Bhavana said that out of the 36 people on indefinite fast, a 55-year-old was hospitalised while the number of people on relay fast has increased to 100.
According to Upadhyaya, 30 students were arrested here for shouting slogans in support of Jan Lokpal-the civil society's draft of the anti-corruption bill.
Actor-turned-politician Sharath Kumar visited the protest venue and expressed his solidarity with those fasting. Youth power was visible at the venue with large number of students present at the site.
"We are supporting people who are fighting for the welfare of the country. The fight is against corruption that plagues the nation," R. Dhanya, a student of architecture, told IANS.
Priya Malolan, a housewife who had come with her child at the venue, said: "The nation has to be saved and we are here to lend our support to the noble cause."
E. Sridhar, a banker, said: "The people who come here are commoners like you and me. They are not part of any political party. Now it is the right time to strike so that the nation gets a good anti-corruption law."
Around 1,500 students and faculty members of Srimathi Sundaravalli Memorial School in Chrompet here also took out a procession.
Meanwhile, around 25 college students hailing from Bihar and Jharkhand, travelling in a goods-carrying vehicle towards the protest venue, had a brush with policemen.
"Seeing the ruckus created by the students the police intercepted the vehicle and brought the students here," said a police official at the Kotturpuram station.
The students then got in touch with IAC officials who in turn approached top police officers to help the students. On the intervention of police higher ups, the students were let off.
The students said the police had asked them to pay a fine. "The students were not able to speak properly in English or Tamil. We did not ask them to pay any fine. They were let off with an advice not to shout on the streets," a police officer told IANS.