Lokpal & Anna Hazare

   We have entered in the last month of 2011 and in the month of April this year unknown social activist in the country from Ralegan Siddhi, 72 years old Anna Hazare had started his first fast unto death agitation against government to make Lokpal which despite presented in the parliament for eight times yet not cleared and does not become Act. After four days of his agitation government accepted his demands and constituted committee to make Lokpal draft having ten members which were represented by half numbers from government and same numbers by civil society. Then in the monsoon session of the parliament draft was presented in the house but cabinet cleared government’s Lokpal draft and ignored civil society’s Lokpal draft despite both sides had difference on score of issues’, It made furious team Anna and on 16^th August, 2011 Anna Hazare started his second fast unto death agitation for strong Lokpal bill. After fourteen days of his fast unto death campaign government accepted his three major demands, which were –

• Citizen Charters for all government officers mean time bound services’ to the public, failure of it government employees would be entitle for punishment.
• Lower bureaucracy should also come under Lokpal ambit.
• Lokayuktas in all the states to have same power as of Lokpal has.

and asked Team Anna to give time to government as all the drafts will be send to Standing Committee of Parliament and then after inputs from all round it will add or delete and come up with its proposals then in the winter session discussion will held in the parliament on to Lokpal, after getting sense that government is not serious to include his demands Team Anna seeks in writing from political parties that they support Jan Lokpal bill, opposition parties pass on their stand in writing to Anna Hazare but Indian National Congress party don’t bother to respond to Anna Hazare’s demand, then Team Anna took decision that they will oppose congress party and will appeal public not to vote congress in the coming by elections in the country, Team Anna appeal to the public of Hisar assembly by election not to vote congress party candidate and result of it Indian National Congress party candidate lost his deposit and in other three by elections held same time all the seats went to opposition parties candidates. It give feel to the public that perhaps congress party will reconsider its opinion on to Lokpal bill and will include demands of Anna Hazare for strong lokpal bill, but as standing committee has finalise its proposals on to Lokpal and has furnish its version, after going through the standing committee draft team Anna is angry as it find missing  –

•   CBI from Lokpal.
• Prime Minster excluded from the Lokpal.
• C and D group employees exempted from Lokpal.

As per words of one of the important member of team Anna, Arvind Kezriwal standing committee of parliament constitute thirty members, and during meetings of committee two members never attended the meetings, sixteen members have given in writing their disagreement, thus report contains only support of twelve members, so after going through standing committee’s version of Lokpal, team Anna already announced of one day token agitation on 11^th of December and they proceed for agitation but this time they also invited all the parties leaders on to their one day token agitation to join and participate with their parties views on to Lokpal, all the parties leaders attended the debate but UPA’s all the parties skip to take part in the debate and make difference from Anna’s one day agitation, below are parties and their leader who join Anna Hazare’s stage –

• Arun Jaitley........................  ( BJP  )
• Brinda Karat.......................  ( CPM )
• Sharad Yadav....................... JD(U)
• AB Bardhan and D Raja...( CPI )
• Ram Gopal Yadav ...............( Samajwadi Party )
• Yerran Naidu ...................( TDP )
• SS Dhindsa ........................( Sharomani Akali Dal )
• Pinaki Mishra ................... ( BJD )

In the presence of the leaders Anna Hazare not only thanks to leaders but also said that their presence has given them strength. As per unconfirmed reports government also ready to accept few major demands with some terms of Anna Hazare, but if Team Anna won’t get strong Lokpal bill then they are ready for the third agitation from 27^th December,2011 and have also announced that they will oppose Indian National Congress party’s leaders in all the coming elections. So coming days are going to unfold with lot of activities and actions on to Lokpal bill and time will tell who have final say on to Lokpal bill, but certainly right now government position is bit weaker due to heavy support of citizen of the country and few major opposition parties.