New Delhi:
At anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare's fast today at the Jantar Mantar, a group of seasoned politicians from across parties spoke over the Lokpal Bill but left with an emphatic message - "Those details are the prerogative of the Parliament. Leave it to Parliament. We'll ensure that a strong, independent Lokpal Bill is passed."
Here are the highlights of what Mr Hazare and the politicians said:
Anna Hazare, Anti-corruption campaigner:These political guests have expressed their opinion and support for a strong Lokpal Bill and this has strengthened our movement. If government delivers a weak Lokpal Bill, I request your parties to join the people who are ready to fill the streets if they are let down. We must fill all jails if the government fails us with a weak Lokpal Bill. You have heard today that all politicians are not bad, many are very good. But the crimes being committed by politicians are increasing. Corruption among politicians is increasing. We are not at risk from the country's enemies, but from these people within.
Arun Jaitley, BJP leader:There's nothing wrong with having this sort of debate. People have the right to make their voices heard to lawmakers through any sort of platform. No difference in debates whether they are inside or outside Parliament. All government servants must be covered by Lokpal - from junior bureaucrats to the PM. BJP wants PM to be covered by Lokpal, and not just after he or she finishes term - why should the country suffer a corrupt PM for even a day? When Anna broke fast in August, we accepted a "sense of the House" in Parliament to have the Lokpal model replicated in states, and to a Citizen's Charter, and that lower bureaucracy must come under an "appropriate mechanism" but this reference was meant to be to the Lokpal. But these points have been excluded from draft - and this goes against what Parliament promised the country. On the matter of the CBI, it is true that the CBI has been misused by political parties in power. The agency must be freed from government control. The CBI director and other senior officers must not be selected by government alone. Investigative powers of CBI must be freed from supervision by government, and the agency's administrative powers should come under the Lokpal.
Sharad Yadav, President, JD(U):War against corruption has been fought earlier but did not work. Now, the movement against corruption is everywhere. All bureaucrats should be covered by Lokpal. In Bihar, we have passed the Lokayukta Act. We will give a copy to Team Anna. They were upset with us over it earlier. Examine it - if you find any shortcomings, come to our homes and reprimand us. In Parliament, the sense of the House that we passed in August on Lokpal Bill - even a comma or full stop cannot be changed - by either the government or Team Anna. This I can guarantee you. That sense of the House will be implemented, come what may. The CBI has been used as a
chaabi or key by the government in power. We will fight this in Parliament. That is where we will give our party's stand on what should be covered by Lokpal. Discussing topics in bits and pieces can be dangerous, so we will have a thorough discussion there. You called us, so I am here to vow that the sense of the House will not change by even a comma.
AB Bardhan, CPI leader: We support the inclusion of PM and junior bureaucrats - Group C government employees - under Lokpal. On CBI, Lokpal can decide when a complaint of corruption is filed if it merits investigation by the CBI. Unfortunately, whichever party is in power - and this does not mean just the Congress - have used the CBI to further their political agenda and target political opponents. But I want to tell Team Anna also that every word in the Jan Lokpal Bill cannot also be treated as law. This should be very clear. Take into account the view of other groups also on the Lokpal Bill, have the patience to accommodate other views. For the judiciary, the Lokpal should not cover judges. We have accepted that the judiciary has complete independence. We should not dilute this. Bring in the tonal Judicial Commission which has been debated for 20 years to handle complaints against judges. We agree that we need a Citizens Charter Bill. And corruption cannot be solved only via the Lokpal.
Ram Gopal Yadav, General Secretary, Samajwadi Party:I emailed Anna to say in this war against corruption, don't go by what a handful of politicians say, the whole country is with you. Anna is right to have objected to the report of the Standing Committee on Lokpal Bill. Parliament agreed on three issues and PM shared this in a letter to Anna in August. Based on this assurance, he ended his fast. But if we deviate from this, what bigger betrayal can there be? In our note of dissent on this Standing Committee report, we have agreed with most of the points raised by Team Anna. And we will support you on these. We want under-represented sections like SC/ST and women to be included in the selection committee for the Lokpal and in the actual Lokpal too. But don't think everyone who is participating in this movement is clean. And don't slam all politicians. Parliament is largely on your side, we agree for the most part with you. And I want to say don't stubbornly insist that each point you want should be included in the final Lokpal Bill. We are all working to deliver an effective law against corruption. But everything you ask for cannot be sanctioned.
Brinda Karat, CPM Politburo member:Team Anna and the movement have established that only members of Parliament cannot decide the future of this country. But don't disparage or dismiss all politicians or their parties. The Standing Committee's report on the Lokpal Bill proves that introducing this bill will amount to have no legislation against corruption at all, it proves this government is keen on a weak bill. That is why our members on this committee have given dissent notes on this report. In the Jan Lokpal Bill, you highlight how big business is being allowed to sell the interests of the country for their own gain. This loot has to end. Corrupt officers who give licenses to these companies have to be checked. Black money has to be stopped. Don't abandon these points that you have made in the Lokpal Bill. Underhand licenses have allowed scams in telecom, mining. We want a stronger Prevention of Corruption Act. The government is trying to focus on NGOs, in the Lokpal Bill, but what about the corrupt big business houses? In 2001, when this government was in Opposition, they argued that the PM must be cover by the Lokpal. So why have they changed their stand now? We cannot accept this. The PM has to be under the ambit of the Lokpal. We accept that there can be riders about national security, but there have been scams related to defence also. MPs cannot be given blanket exemption in their conduct within the House - we have seen how MPs can be bought or solder paid to ask a question. About Group C employees, first the standing committee said they would be covered by the Lokal. Then 24 hours later, the panel changed its stand. What sort of farce is this? Group C employees have to be covered by the Lokpal. The CBI is the country's premier investigating agency, its investigative powers have to be brought under the Lokpal. For the judiciary, we see how judges are no longer corruption-free. So the Judicial Accountability Bill has to be made stronger, but judges should be covered by that and not by the Lokpal. We want a separate bill for Citizens' Grievances Redressal Bill - one that is easily accessible.
D Raja, CPI leader:Sickest corruption that takes place even after six decades of independence is denial of rights, denial of due rights to women, tribals, Dalits and others. They must be included not just in search committee for Lokpal Bill but in the actual Lokpal itself. Anna has made good suggestions, so have other groups like NCPRI. We will give due consideration to all this when the debate happens in Parliament on Standing Committee's report on Lokpal. But let us not have illusion that Lokpal alone can end corruption. We need much more reform. We want Lokpal Bill to be passed in this session of Parliament.
Pinaki Mishra, Leader, BJD: I was a member of the Standing Committee. We met finest minds to discuss the Lokpal Bill. But we are not happy with final result so we have given strong dissent note. On November 30, there was near-consensus in two issues: I said lack of independence of CBI is one of main reasons for this movement. Every government has been loathed to let go out of control of CBI. On November 30, there was near consensus on how CBI Director should be appointed. Instead of acting as lap-dogs of government, these senior officers must be selected by a panel of the PM, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and head of the Lokpal. This was meant to be the last meeting of the committee. The next morning we were told to rush back for another meeting because there has been a rethink on CBI. There was near-majority in the committee that Grade C employees must be included in Lokpal. But both these issues were changed overnight. The PM has no business to be outside the purview of the Lokpal. Subject to just exceptions of a few safeguards like three-fourth of the Lokpal members must find cause to investigate the PM. CBI must be appointed by the panel I have mentioned. We want stronger punishment for officers guilty of corruption. The committee has not been a total write-off. CBI Director of Prosecution must be totally autonomous so that the government via Ministry of Personnel cannot hand-pick which officers should be prosecuted. The next major agitation must be on how Parliament is run. Politicians should not disrupt Parliament. Members must not rush into the well of the House to disrupt Parliament. There must be a proper debate, this bill mustn't be rushed through Parliament.