Govt for a mid-path, but Hazare sticks to his cause

A worried UPA tried convincing noted social activist Anna Hazare to end his indefinite fast that entered its third day on Thursday.

As the protests gathered momentum across the nation, the government realised that the drive against corruption spearheaded by the 73-year-old Gandhian could embarrass it further and sent feelers to the activist promising to look into his demands. Congress President Sonia Gandhi too appealed to end his fast.

In her public appeal to Hazare, Gandhi expressed hope that his “views will receive the government’s full attention as we move forward to fight this menace (corruption)”.

Gandhi’s appeal came hours after the government agreed to accomodate civil society activists in equal strength as members of the committee for drafting a new anti-corruption law. The government told the group of social activists protesting at Jantar Mantar that five members each from the government and the civil society will be part of the drafting committee. It has also promised to bring the Bill in the Parliament’s monsoon session.

Hazare’e protests had forced Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to quit the GoM on corruption last night. Government sources suggested that Pawar was advised by some senior Cabinet ministers to take a stand after Hazare lashed out at him on issues of corruption.

In a clear signal that a worried UPA is keen to see the Anna Hazare-led protest come to an end quickly and peacefully, Gandhi issued an appeal saying she is “pained by Anna Hazareji’s fast unto death.”

“The issues he has raised are of grave public concern. There can be no two views on the urgent necessity of combating graft and corruption in public life. I believe that the laws in this matter must be effective and must deliver the desired result,” Gandhi said in her statement on Thursday.

Union Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal met Swami Agnivesh and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal to resolve the stalemate. The supporters of the India Against Corruption campaign, however, questioned the government’s intention for not issuing a notification on the formation of the committee?

The logjam also continued over the chairmanship of the drafting committee. The government maintained that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherji should head the committee, while the activists wanted Hazare for the top post. However, the man spearheading the protest said he was not interested in heading the panel but wanted an eminent retired Supreme Court judge to lead the committee. Sibal held two rounds of talks with Kejriwal and Swami Agnivesh but failed to find common ground.

“We had two rounds of discussions. We have agreed on almost all issues but two. The first is about issuing an official notification to form the committee and the other on making Hazare the chairman of the committee,” Sibal told reporters after the second round of talks at his residence. “We need more time and we will meet again tomorrow and see how we could evolve a procedure with which we can move ahead.”

“Sibal told us it won’t be possible and that he will announce to the media about the formation of the committee but there will be no formal notification. The intent of the government is in question with the minister not agreeing on an formal notification on the formation of the committee. They are trying to make a fool of us,” said Kejriwal.