After Anna jibe, Pawar quits anti-graft panel (Lead)
April 6th, 2011 - 11:37 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, April 6 (IANS) Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Wednesday stepped down from the high-powered anti-graft ministerial panel after social activist Anna Hazare, who is on fast-unto-death here against corruption, criticised him.
Sources told IANS that Pawar has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking him to relieve him from the Group of Ministers (GoM) that was set up in January to suggest legislative and administrative measures to curb corruption and improve transparency in government functioning.
“He has written to the prime minister informing him that he doesn’t want to be associated with the GoM any more,” a source close to Pawar said.
The move comes hours after Hazare, whose fast had launched a nationwide campaign against corruption, criticised Pawar’s inclusion in the panel, saying he owns large chunks of land in Maharashtra.
Hazare said, “A minister like Sharad Pawar, who is known for the possessing of large amounts of land holdings in Maharashtra, is heading a committee that will draft the (Lokpal or ombudsman) bill!”
Incidentally, Pawar was only a member of the committee, which is headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
On an indefinite fast here since Tuesday, Hazare is pressing for the enactment of the anti-graft bill with stringent measures against corruption.
Pawar earlier said he would be happy to be relieved from all ministerial panels, including the one on corruption.
“I will be happy if you relieve me from all GoMs, including that GoM (on corruption),” Pawar told reporters, replying to a query on Hazare’s jibe.
The high-powered ministerial panel on corruption is headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and has Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal, Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister M.K. Alagiri and IT and Communications Minister Kapil Sibal as its other members.
- Pawar quits anti-graft panel after Hazare jibe - Apr 06, 2011
- Pawar gives into Hazare's demand, quits GoM on corruption - Apr 06, 2011
- Hazare rejects Pawar's offer to quit from Lokpal Bill GoM - Apr 06, 2011
- Hectic efforts to resolve crisis as anti-corruption crusade swells (Evening Lead) - Apr 08, 2011
- Talks to end Hazare's fast inconclusive (Lead) - Apr 07, 2011
- Ministers favour fast-tracking cases of corrupt officials - Feb 15, 2011
- Anna Hazare's crusade must be supported: Ananth Kumar - Apr 05, 2011
- Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement: Time-line - Apr 09, 2011
- Anna Hazare's agitation premature: Congress (Lead) - Apr 06, 2011
- Hazare's rallying anti-corruption cry galvanises India - Apr 06, 2011
- PM holds meet, Pranab appeals to Hazare - Apr 08, 2011
- Will be on Lokpal committee with open mind: Khurshid - Apr 13, 2011
- Anna Hazare describes his fast, a second 'freedom struggle' - Apr 07, 2011
- Hazare-led anti-graft drive garners more support (Lead) - Apr 06, 2011
- PM initiated mechanism for talks on Lokpal bill: Soni - Apr 06, 2011
Tags: administrative measures, agriculture minister, bansal, gom, goms, kapil sibal, law minister, mamata banerjee, manmohan singh, ministerial panel, p chidambaram, parliamentary affairs, pranab mukherjee, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, railway minister, sharad pawar, social activist, stringent measures, veerappa