NEED OF A STRONG JAN LOKPAL BILL.

By Nisser Dias.
25th Aug 2011

A strong Jan Lokpal Bill is the only way to fight corruption in this country.
The countrymen led by Anna Hazare and his team are up in arms against the UPA government for drafting what they termed a weak Jan Lokpal Bill – a weapon that is foreseen to fight or rather curb corruption.

Tens of thousands of people are participating in rallies, marches, demonstrations in almost all the states in support of Anna’s demand for a stringent bill wherein even the prime minister of the country will be held accountable for any form of corruption. Undoubtedly such a bill was long overdue and it is indeed the need of the hour because of rampant corruption in all the spheres of governance and administration be it at the central or state level.

In the two five year term of the UPA governance the scale of corruption has been astronomical whereby the country has lost tremendous revenue at the same time has brought a bad name to the country wherein India is featured in the list of top ten as most corrupt countries. Cabinet colleagues in the Dr. Manmohan Singh government are presently locked in the Tihar jail and many more are being investigated for amassing huge wealth disproportionate to their known source of income or currying favours to corporate houses and industrialists for personal gains. This is the reason we need a strong Lokpal bill to curb the menace of corruption in its various forms.

Six decades have passed since Independence but none of the governments during this period did anything concrete to wholeheartedly and sincerely introduce a full-proof Bill in the parliament to fight corruption. Every time it was introduced there was opposition to certain clauses and was conveniently shelved.

It was only in April this year when 74 year old anti corruption crusader upped his ante and undertook a fast unto death making citizens of this country to support him to fight corruption that the government realized that the suppressed anger of the people was turning into a tsunami. They had no option but to introduce it. But Anna and his team contemplated their moves well. Knowing very well that any government not necessarily UPA would not draft an effective Lokpal Bill demanded that members of the civilian society be included on the drafting committee. The UPA government realized escape routes for corrupt politicians, judiciary, and other government employees were sought to be shut, they refused to incorporate recommendation of the civilian society members in the Bill.

The politicians or rather some of the parliamentarians feel that the civilian should not usurp the duties or privileges of the parliament. My question is if these members of the Lok Sabha and Raja Sabha are so conscious of maintaining the sanctity of the august House, why did it take more than 60 long years to formulate a bill to curb corruption. Secondly if in a democracy the government is “of the people”, “for the people” and “by the people” why should the elected representative raise a hue and cry of including civilian society on the drafting committee and incorporating their recommendation in the bill?. Do we forfeit our rights as citizens of this country after we cast our ballot? Constitution of India gives us the right to freedom of speech and expression at the same time it endorses our right to protest and demonstrate peacefully. And Anna’s protest through indefinite hunger strike defines people’s power.

For the parliamentarians on the Bill drafting committee, inclusion of the Prime minister, judiciary and certain grade officers under the ambit of Bill is not acceptable. Does not the prime minister and judiciary come under laws like the Income Tax or Indian Penal Code? Just a week ago both houses of parliament impeached a High Court judge misappropriating money deposited with the court and also for amassing wealth. Therefore earlier laws were made to include everybody. It is said, nobody can be above the law however high or low. Why should there be an exception in the Jan Lokpal Bill especially when there are plenty of allegations of corruption against the judiciary and when fingers are being pointed at prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in the 2G scandal. Can we forget Bofors scandal where former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi was accused of receiving kickbacks.

At the same time the country is proud to have Dr. Manmohan Singh at the helm of affairs and is projected to be Mr. Clean, so what is the fear and why is the resistance to include prime minister and judiciary under the Lokpal Bill.

This resistance has given the BJP and its allies reason to go hammer and tongs at the union government. The UPA should use this tacit support of the NDA to the Anna’s protest and pass the Bill. Of course BJP is also using this opportunity to come back to power.
Though there has been overwhelming support to Anna Hazare’s protest and demand for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill at the same there have been misgivings about the methods used by him. Even Prime minister Dr. Singh has commented that Anna might have high ideals but his methods are misconceived. Our elected representatives and even Dr. Manmohan Singh should specify the ways and means to be adopted by civilians to bring about a change in the functioning and administration of our country.

For example tens of thousands of people who are participating in the protest with Anna must have surely paid a bribe to government official and a large section might have also been forced to pay to get their work done. The question here is can a common man scream at a government servant of demanding a bribe, if he does so criminally cases of assaulting a government official on duty, obstructing government servant while carrying out lawful duties are registered against the common man. Whereas if a common man wants to register a case of corruption he is made to run from pillar to post to produce evidence because our system is corrupt and balance is tilted in favour of government employees rather than the people. And what better example do we need when anti corruption crusader Anna Hazare is sent packing to jail for demanding a strong Jan Lokpal Bill but all the politicians of this country who have made politics their business and have amassed enormous wealth through corruption are living in luxury.

God save this country from our politicians and strong Jan Lokpal Bill is the only answer.
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(Nisser Dias writes a regular column in GT every Thursday).

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