As Anna fasts, people demand Jan Lokpal Bill faster

After yesterday’s declaration by Team Anna that Jan Lokpal Bill must be passed as expeditiously as possible, many questions were raised on the feasibility of the entire process. Shanti Bhushan, former law minister and the co-chair of Joint Drafting Committee on Lokpal Bill, responded to these doubts early this morning. Overwhelmed by people’s support who refuse to tolerate corruption lying down, Team Anna vowed that we shall not leave Ramlila ground until Jan Lokpal Bill is passed in this session. Shanti Bhushan explained, in rather fine details, that the current government’s Lokpal Bill can be withdrawn and the Jan Lokpal Bill can be introduced on Tuesday in the Lower House of Parliament (as Monday is a holiday).  On Wednesday and Thursday, Jan Lokpal Bill and each of its provisions can be discussed at length by the Parliamentarians of the Lower house. And then the Bill may be sent to Rajya Sabha. And by the 29th – 30th August the discussions can be concluded and the Bill may be passed. He shared the experience that during Emergency, the 39th Amendment was passed not just in both the houses but also in legislative assemblies of the states very quickly as then there was not just political will, but also political urgency to do so. It may be underlined that adequate time is being granted for discussion. Otherwise Indian parliaments have displayed dismal apathy to many Bills which were passed within minutes of tabling, without any debate or discussion. Santosh Koli, RTI activist and working with Parviartan from long, addressed the stage saying that she, as a dalit herself, was compelled to come out and respond to those who say that this campaign is anti-dalit. (Santosh – 8527218191) Arvind Kejriwal has appealed to all the people to sit on dharna  outside houses of MP as well as write letters to them. He also requested media organisations to publish contact details of all the MPs for the public. Kumar Vishwas, eminent poet and core member of the campaign expressed gratitude to the mediapersons, ‘warriors of pen and camera’ who have been braving the odds at ground zero and disseminating Anna’s message to the world. Bhartiya Kisaan Union extended its support to the Jan Lokpal Bill and said that corruption at the level of Panchayats, in irrigation department, in forest department should be essentially checked. A Lokpal which cannot do this probably is defunct and no use at all. (Ransingh Arya and Dr. S.S. Bhora – 9891839922)