FDI standoff an excuse not to bring Lokpal, alleges Hazare
December 2nd, 2011 - 9:59 pm ICT by IANS
Ralegan-Siddhi (Maharashtra), Dec 2 (IANS) Anna Hazare Friday accused the central government of prolonging the parliament stalemate over the issue of foreign equity in retail as an excuse not to bring the Lokpal bill.
“So many parties are saying don’t bring FDI in retail, but the government is adamant. What kind of democracy is this,” he said.
“What I feel is that they don’t want to bring the Jan Lokpal (the civil society’s version of Lokpal), so they are stretching it. Government has no will to bring Jan Lokpal so it is prolonging resolution of FDI issue,” he added.
Parliament has not been able to function for the past nine days over the issue of foreign equity in retail and other contentious matters due to vociferous opposition protests.
Hazare said he was planning to visit the five states where assembly elections are scheduled early next year and hold protests there.
“I will go to five states to awaken people. I will have two-three days’ dharna in every state,” he added.
The activist also said he is protesting in New Delhi starting Dec 27 for a strong Lokpal.
“We have eight-day permission for fast presently. After that they will not let me sit, then I will leave the fast and start on a tour of the five states and tell them they are being cheated,” he added.
He said the Parliamentary Standing Committee examining the Lokpal bill had decided to include the Group C employees - the bottom layer of government officials. But in a volte face, the panel Thursday decided to exclude them from the proposed purview of the Lokpal.
“The whole standing committee decided that they will bring class C under Lokpal and yesterday suddenly they called the meeting again and said only class one and two will be under Lokpal, leaving out three and four.”
“If they don’t bring class C, how will they eradicate corruption? What option do they have, their corruption affects the poor most. Today, the poor are concerned only with class 3 and 4, they don’t go to class one directly. They go to Class 2, 3, 4; and if they are left out, how will people get justice? This is totally wrong,” he added.
- Angry Anna targets Rahul for Lokpal about-turn (Roundup) - Dec 02, 2011
- Rahul to blame for Lokpal flip-flop, says Anna - Dec 02, 2011
- Anna set for fast, politicians hit back (Evening Lead) - Dec 26, 2011
- Civil society upset over 'sarkari' Lokpal (Lead) - Jul 28, 2011
- Anna set for fast, political class dubs him 'impatient' (Roundup) - Dec 26, 2011
- Anna set for fast, political class dubs him 'impatient' (Intro Roundup) - Dec 26, 2011
- Government not serious about fighting graft, says Hazare - Dec 07, 2011
- Ailing Anna ends fast, vows to fight on (Intro Roundup) - Dec 28, 2011
- Anna gets Left, right support for strong Lokpal (Roundup) - Dec 11, 2011
- Lokpal panel finalises report, Team Anna rejects it - Dec 07, 2011
- Confrontation looms as Lokpal report is tabled (Roundup) - Dec 09, 2011
- Hazare leaves for Delhi to hold token fast - Dec 10, 2011
- Bhushan's Kashmir statement under Anna scanner (Roundup) - Oct 14, 2011
- Anna attacks government on FDI front too - Nov 30, 2011
- Hazare fit to fast: Doctor - Dec 26, 2011
Tags: activist, anna hazare, assembly elections, bottom layer, central government, class 3, class c, corruption, excuse, government officials, New Delhi, nine days, opposition protests, parliamentary standing committee, purview, siddhi, stalemate, standoff, vociferous opposition, volte face