Ramdev, Anna group differ on Lokpal Bill

Even as Yoga guru Baba Ramdev decides to go on a hungerstrike demanding recovery of India’s black money stashed away abroad, he seemed soft on the question of including the Prime Minister under the ambit of the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill, signalling a difference of opinion in the civil society on the issue.

Ramdev said that he would not “get into the controversy of inclusion of the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice in the Lokpal Bill.”

“The question is complicated. I don’t want to get into this debate. It is a serious matter if there are uncalled for comments on the person holding a senior position in the democracy,” he said at Sehore in Madhya Pradesh at his ‘Swabhiman Yatra’.

He also expressed doubt about the Chief Justice of India being brought under its purview, admitting that though CJIs had bee accused of corruption it is not proper to bring them under the Lokpal Bill.

“How do you know that the Lokpal would not be more corrupt than the CJI,” he asked.

Ramdev had earlier lent his full support to social activist Anna Hazare on the issue of a stringent Jan Lokpal Bill.

Civil society representative in the Lokpal drafting committee Arvind Kejriwal said he would try to speak and explain Baba Ramdev on the issues of PM and the CJI.

Serious differences have already cropped up between the government and civil society members of the committee formed to draft the tough anti-corruption ombudsman bill, over the inclusion of the Prime Minister within its ambit.

Arvind Kejriwal Monday said the government came up with the sorry suggestion of not even including the Prime Minister within the ambit of the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill, besides higher bureaucracy and higher judiciary.

Baba Ramdev, meanwhile, has refused to relent from his plans of going on a hunger strike from June 4 unless the government took strong action on recovering Indian illicit funds stashed away in offshore accounts, media reports said on Tuesday.

?There is no question of calling of the protest unless government takes quantifiable steps on black money,? he said.

According to Congress sources, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee may hold a meeting with Ramdev on black money and Income Tax irregularities.

Mukherjee will brief Ramdev on the government?s action on the issues. He will try to persuade him not to start his indefinite fast on Saturday.

Earlier his announcement that he will fast-unto-death as part of a ?satyagraha? against black money and corruption aiding tax evasion from June 4, had garnered support from over 32 lakh people online.

The threat which comes within a month of a similar campaign by Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare?s that forced the government to form a joint panel of ministers and activists to draft a tough ombudsman bill – the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Sources said the government, weary of another tussle with activists to which it could once again have to lose face, was keen on doing all it can to convince the yoga guru to withdraw his plans of hunger strike.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) met in New Delhi on Monday, in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to deliberate ways they could avoid a standoff and reportedly decided on setting up a panel to draw an estimate of funds illegally stashes in foreign banks.

Earlier, announcing his plans, Ramdev had said, ?I will start my ‘Satyagraha against Corruption’ movement on June 4 at Ramlila Maidan here to force the government act on corruption-related issues, especially that related to black money. My supporters across the world will also fast with me.?

“The Centre has not taken any concrete decision on the issue of black money. The fight against corruption will continue till it is not rooted out. We must have a strong Jan Lokpal by August,” he said.

“I just want to say that whatever they have consented to on certain issues, the fact is it’s stuck within time and system. How will this black money come back?” Ramdev said.

“We are waiting for the ratification of the UN convention in which there are 71 articles and according to that all the rules and regulations will be made. What I have spoken to government is all about black money and how this black money can be brought back,” he said.

Ramdev said he has invited Hazare to join his movement. “Annaji’s agitation was on the single issue of Lokpal Bill. We have to take the agitation to the next level,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hazare extended his full support to Ramdev. “We are supporting Ramdev Baba, whoever stands to fight corruption it is important to support them… we have to remove corruption,” Hazare said.

The Central government had on Jan 18 submitted to the Supreme Court the list of Indians who have accounts in Liechtensteins LGT Bank in a sealed cover.

Media reports said that at least 26 names have been included in the list submitted before the apex court by the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

The government, however, refused to share the information in public domain, stating that it would violate a sovereign agreement between India and Germany.

The government has maintained that making the names public would violate Clause 26 of the DTAA and also hamper negotiations with Switzerland and a dozen other countries on amending the existing DTAAs to provide for exchange of information related to bank accounts.

Under the clause, the information submitted is privileged and details of the informant, its recipient and that of accountholders cannot be revealed to any third person except share it with the court or investigating agencies.