Anna Hazare?s fast draws mass support; Govt claims support to Lokpal Bill

As veteran social activist Anna Hazare?s fast-unto-death demanding implementation of an ombudsman bill to fight corruption attracted massive support as it entered day two, the government on Wednesday said it was not opposed to the bill.

The indefinite fast launched by the social crusader at the Jantar Mantar here since Tuesday drew massive support from people from all walks of life, including political parties who were united in demanding a tough anti-corruption bill.

?I will continue to fight till there is life in me. It is high time that we launch a crusade against corruption,” Hazare said from his fasting platform as there was a swelling number of people across India joining the anti-corruption movement.

There is also a huge online campaign against corruption and in favour of Hazare’s demand.

He said he would continue to fast till the government agreed to the implementation of the Bill that is pending since the past 42 years.

Meanwhile, Human Resource Development (HRD) Kapil Sibal , who is part of a subgroup on corruption and had met the activists led by Hazare, said the government is open to all possible suggestions from the social activists in drafting the Jan Lokpal Bill.

?We are not opposed to any suggestion made,? he said, adding that the subgroup, which is part of a Group of Ministers (GoM) to tackle corruption, was asked to commit in principle to a joint committee on the bill before April 5.

?We said we are not empowered to commit and we need time,? he said.

Sibal said the civil society should have confidence in the government in moving forward since it was taking into consideration their concerns.

Sibal said the government is committed to set up institutions to deal with corruption.
?The Prime Minister is committed, Sonia Gandhi is committed, the party is committed,? he said.

?Many in the group [the social activists under India Against Corruption or IAC] appreciated the government point of view,? he claimed, referring to the subgroup?s meeting with the activists.

?They told us that you take a decision here and now and before April 5,” he said, adding that he promised them to place their demand before the GoM since they “are not authorised to take a decision.”

Defence Minister A K Antony is heading the subgroup which also includes Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy.

?I am surprised that an extreme position has been taken and I appeal to their good sense not to stall the dialogue,? Sibal said.

Earlier, the principle Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had spoken in favour of the anti-corruption bill, leaving it to the government to work the procedures to formulate it.

The Bill was formulated and given to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by the India Against Corruption (IAC) group spearheaded by Hazare and other activists like Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh.

The IAC is supported by Professionals Party of India; Parivartan, Pune; Dnyan-Setu, Pune; Sajag Nagrik Manch, Pune; Art of Living, Pune; and Bhrashtachar Virodhi Janandolan Nyaas, Ralegan Siddhi.

Hazare has been advocating the Jan Lokpal Bill, pointing that institutions like Lokpal and Lokayukta are better placed to investigate corruption charges against politicians since the government investigating bodies are controlled by politicians and hence, cannot function independently.

Earlier on Monday, the Prime Minister had urged him to desist from his hunger strike, though Hazare had sought to ignore Singh?s appeal.

Anna Hazare, 72, said he was heart-broken by the rejection of the Prime Minister to include the civil society activists in the joint committee to draft the bill.

A Lokpal means an ombudsman to root out corruption at high places in the Indian polity.
The Lokpal Bill (Ombudsman Bill), 2010 is now awaiting a select parliamentary committee’s ascent.

The Bill when implemented can allow filing complaints of corruption against the Prime Minister, ministers and all lawmakers.