'Tainted' Lokpal members must step down: activist

Leading NGO activist Omkar Razdan, who was hospitalised while taking part in the fast-unto-death protest along with Anna Hazare, today demanded that the "tainted" members of the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill should voluntarily step down.

Razdan, who is associated with NGO Nyaya Bhoomi, said he now finds that no effort or argument was spared to derail the joint committee involved in drafting the legislation within a time-frame.

"Indeed the date, if adhered to, will be a day of liberation from corruption. Even granted that some panel members are tainted with allegations, they should voluntarily ease themselves out and make Hazare's steep climb less painful and result oriented," Razdan, a former Director General of Air Force Works, said.

He said Hazare cannot sail smoothly in an environment where "corrupt politicians and bureaucrats" have amassed "mountains of wealth".

Razdan's remarks come in the backdrop of allegations levelled against joint committee members Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan.