Decisive day of Anna Hazare’s movement

The condition of veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare has bee deteriorating on the 8th day of his fast against corruption.


However, it is believed that Tuesday may be the decisive day of Anna’s Anshan for strong Jan Lokpal Bill. The government is on backfoot following massive support to Anna across the country, and it is expected that the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may give influential statement in the Parliament to end the deadlock.



On the other hand, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi has said that Anna’s condition is deteriorating. Anna’s kidney is getting affected due to fast and doctors say that next 24-48 hrs may be dangerous for the veteran activist.



After more than 165 hours of fast, the central government has been bowing before the Team Anna and offered reasoned dialogue over the issue of strong lokpal bill.



The government has given invitation for talks through spiritual leader Shri Shri Ravi Shankar. However, Anna doesn’t want to talk with Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambara because duo had slammed former’s move to sit on dharna.



On Monday, Team Anna suggested few names for the mediators to government.



On the other hand, united Opposition is the biggest worry for the government. The BJP has come out in open support for Anna. Even Lal Krishna Advanai dared Prime Minister to seek fresh mandate as his government has lost faith of the public.



Between all these circumstances, it is expected that Manmohan Singh may give decisive statement in the House on Tuesday, which will help Team Anna to end the Anshan.



According to the sources, Team Anna has said that the matter can be resolved in 24 hours. “There is need for a political dialogue to find the solution. We don’t need informal mediators,” Team Anna said.



If sources are to be believed government has agreed to bring Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal. The government version of Lokpal doesn’t include judiciary and prime minister.



The decision was taken in a meeting held at Prime Minister’s residence on Monday night.

Courtesy : http://english.samaylive.com/nation-news/676492327/decisive-day-of-anna-hazare-s-movement-.html

What is Lokpal Bill?

The Lokpal will be a three-member body with a chairperson who is or was a chief justice or Supreme Court judge, and two members who are or have been high courts judges or chief justices.

Implementation of the Lokpal bill will hopefully reduce corruption in India.

The basic idea of the Lokpal is borrowed from the office of the ombudsman in other countries.

It provides for filing complaints of corruption against the prime minister , other ministers and members of parliament with the ombudsman.

Anyone, except for a public servant , can file a complaint and the Lokpal has to complete the inquiry within six months.

For 42 years, governments have tried to put in place the law.

The bill was for the first time presented during the fourth Lok Sabha in 1968, and was passed there in 1969. However, the Lok Sabha was dissolved , resulting in the first death of the bill.

It was revived in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008.

In September 2004, prime minister Manmohan Singh said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government would lose no time in enacting the bill. But strong lobbies blocked it.

The Lokpal Bill, 2010, awaits an okay from a select committee.

Former chief justice of the Delhi high court and rights activist Rajinder Sachar feels the bill is "shamefully toothless and meant to give a false reassurance to the people that the government is serious in its fight against corruption" .

But former chief justice of India M N Venkatachelliah feels the PM must be out of its purview.