A ‘revolution’ to spread awareness on anti-corruption Bill
Calling it a potential revolution, broadly on the lines of the recent one in Egypt, a group of activists under the banner of ‘India Against Corruption’ announced their plan of action for Maharashtra on Tuesday.
Keeping in mind the civic elections in Mumbai in February next year, the group wants Mumbaikars to not vote for candidates from political parties opposed to the ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’ that is drafted by eminent citizens and activists and aims for the creation of a powerful anti-corruption body.
Many members of the nationwide movement, including veteran activist Anna Hazare, will go on a hunger strike in Delhi during the first week of April if the government does not adopt the Bill.
About 150 activists from different sections of society came together in Mumbai on Tuesday and launched a campaign where citizens can denounce the Bill drafted by a central government committee and collectively urged the government to introduce the Bill drafted by citizens’ consensus.
The outreach programme will be started along with the hunger strike wherein a ‘vote bank against corruption and black money’ will be initiated. Citizens who pledge to not vote for candidates belonging to parties against the Bill will register their will to do so through an SMS and Internet campaign.
The group had staged rallies and public protests in 60 Indian cities on January 30 against the ineffective prosecution of tainted politicians and bureaucrats. Mayank Gandhi from the Jagruk Nagrik Manch said the proposed Bill drafted by the government is merely a showpiece. “The proposed Bill states that the lokpal will have jurisdiction over politicians but not bureaucrats, which is ridiculous. Moreover, it has also been proposed to make lokpal an advisory body to the government without any real executive powers. We want people to oppose the presentation of this Bill in its current state and instead opt for the version that makes the Lokpal a real and independent anti-corruption body,” said Gandhi.
When Hazare and his followers fast, those associated with the movement will also skip lunch on one day. “Through the fast we will try to attract citizens’ attention towards the Bill. We want the government to assure us that the Bill drafted by citizens will be adopted and the current draft will be rejected,” said right to information pioneer and Magsaysay awardee Arvind Kejriwal.
The Bill is drafted by Kiran Bedi, Justice Santosh Hegde, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, J M Lyngdoh, Kejriwal and renamed as the ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’. The draft aims at making the Lokayukta independent and powerful where the prosecution period for a convicted corrupt government official will not extend beyond two years.