Cabinet will discuss ‘ineffective’ Lokpal bill: Hazare
July 27th, 2011 - 9:10 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, July 27 (IANS) Social activist Anna Hazare, who has been campaigning for a strong Lokpal bill to fight corruption, Wednesday said the bill which is likely to be discussed by the cabinet Thursday is the “weak” and “ineffective” form.
“The union cabinet is most likely to discuss the contents of Lokpal bill tomorrow (Thursday), which should be presented in the forthcoming session of parliament. In its present form, the government’s version of the Lokpal bill is too weak and ineffective,” Hazare said in a statement here.
“It has a very narrow jurisdiction,” he added.
“It is a rare opportunity for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to change the history of India. If they present a strong Lokpal bill, the whole country will be indebted to them. We sincerely appeal to the cabinet to present a strong Lokpal bill in parliament,” Hazare said.
A 10-member Lokpal bill joint drafting committee, constituting members of the civil society and the government, was formed in April after a fast by Hazare to demand a stringent anti-corruption law.
The civil society members want the Lokpal bill to be passed by parliament by Aug 15 and have threatened another fast if this does not happen.
“If the government presents a law whose basic structure is bad, we will be left with no option but to sit on an indefinite fast to demand that the government should withdraw this law and present a better law in parliament,” the statement said.
- Present both drafts of Lokpal bill to cabinet: Bhushan - Jul 26, 2011
- Lokpal debate collapses amid acrimony, Hazare to fast (Roundup) - Jun 16, 2011
- Three sticking points with government: Team Anna - Aug 24, 2011
- Comparative version of Lokpal bill is one-sided, says Bhushan - Jun 27, 2011
- BJP accepts Jan Lokpal bill: Gadkari writes to Anna - Aug 25, 2011
- Split wide open; government, Team Hazare plan own versions (Roundup) - Jun 15, 2011
- Deadlock between Team Hazare, government continues (Lead) - Jun 15, 2011
- Anna Hazare describes his fast, a second 'freedom struggle' - Apr 07, 2011
- Not holding government to ransom with fasts, says Bhushan - Jun 17, 2011
- Civil society upset over 'sarkari' Lokpal (Lead) - Jul 28, 2011
- Government has cheated over Lokpal bill: Anna Hazare - Jul 28, 2011
- Congress core committee discusses Lokpal bill stand-off - Jun 18, 2011
- Karnataka pontiff backs Hazare's anti-graft bill - Aug 18, 2011
- Confrontation looms as Lokpal report is tabled (Roundup) - Dec 09, 2011
- We want strong Lokpal bill, BJP tells Team Hazare (Lead) - Jul 01, 2011
Tags: anna hazare, corruption, drafting committee, forthcoming session, history of india, jurisdiction, New Delhi, parliament, progressive alliance, rare opportunity, social activist, society members, union cabinet