Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) Social reformer Anna Hazare and other civil society members Monday boycotted the Lokpal bill drafting panel meeting, saying the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev had “strengthened the doubts” about the government’s intentions to have a strong anti-corruption body. They also sought permission for a protest Wednesday.

“Recent events since our last meeting don’t inspire any confidence that the government is serious enough about the Lokpal bill. Further, what happened in the Ramlila ground strengthened our doubts,” Shanti Bhushan, co-chairperson of the committee, said in a letter to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is the joint chairperson of the bill drafting committee.

“Is the government really serious in dealing with corruption, especially when the government is facing such severe criticism on account of so many scams? In view of this, we have decided not to attend today’s meeting of the joint committee,” it added.

The activists have sought rescheduling of the next meeting of the committee June 10 to some other date because of prior engagements of Hazare.

“We will send a list of important issues, including six identified by the government, by tomorrow. We urge that the government’s views on these be made public so that an informed public debate on these could start immediately,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, former police official Kiran Bedi, who is closely associated with Hazare’s campaign, said they will take permission to hold a day-long fast June 8 to protest the crackdown.

Bedi said: “We will take permission to hold a day-long fast June 8 and depending on that, we will go ahead with it. We are assured that we will be granted permission because it will be a peaceful protest and this is our democratic right.”

Bedi further said that Hazare has “some questions for Ramdev” but the two have not met till now.

Delhi Police imposed prohibitory orders in the New Delhi and Central Delhi police districts till June 11, putting curbs on gatherings of five and more people.

While Jantar Mantar falls in the New Delhi police district, Ramlila Ground, from where Ramdev and his supporters were evicted post-midnight Saturday, comes under the central Delhi police district.