New Delhi:
It took 72-year-old activist Anna Hazare, his four-day hunger strike, and thousands of Indians protesting in the streets to persuade the government that the country can no longer wait for a tough new law that will combat corruption.
And though the government eventually agreed to Mr Hazare's demand - that civil society be represented on the committee that drafts the new law or Jan Lokpal Bill- a friction seems to linger.
Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal is one of the five ministers who will represent the government on the committee. At a public meeting in Delhi on Sunday, Mr Sibal said, "Can the Lokpal Bill help send a child to school? When a poor man needs help to admit his child to hospital and he can't do it without calling a politician, how will the Lokpal Bill solve that?"
Mr Hazare said that if Mr Sibal does not believe that the Lokpal Bill can lead to change, "He should give his resignation as soon as possible from the committee. Why should he waste time? There are other things that need to be done for this nation should be done by him, then why be part of this committee? If nothing will change, and you are disappointed about it, then you should not be in it."
Mr Sibal said that he meant only that the bill cannot solve problems like the lack of education, and that he is looking forward to collaborating with Mr Hazare.
But his party's relationship with Mr Hazare may have been grazed a bit by the activist's recent praise of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the development he has brought to rural areas. Mr Modi lost no time in thanking Mr Hazare. In a blog, he wrote, "I and my state of Gujarat are indebted to you for the courage and conviction you showed in saying good words for me and my state. "
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said today, "I cannot comment on what an individual says." Activist Mallika Sarabhai, who publically supported Mr Hazare last week, was less restrained. "I don't think even Annaji knows what he said.... he has also gotten carried away by the fabulous PR job of the Gujarat government," she said.