Satisfactory Lok Pal Bill would check Hazare fast, says Bhushan

Social activist Anna Hazare will not go ahead with his earlier decision on an indefinite fast from August 16 if the government agreed to inculcate some basic points in the proposed Lok Pal Bill.

His supporters and he want the proposed ombudsman’s ambit to include all public officials and a citizens’ charter providing a time-bound commitment to address public grievances.

“There are few issues which are non-negotiable, like inclusion of all public officials, creation of Lokayuktas in all states and a citizens’ charter. Anna Hazare will not go ahead with his decision to fast if these issues are addressed by the government,” said Prashant Bhushan, associate of Hazare and Supreme Court advocate, on the sidelines of a seminar opposing illegal mining in Karnataka.

He said the group was ready to discuss the issue of whether or not to include the Prime Minister and judiciary under the proposed bill.

Hazare, Prashant Bhushan, former law minister Shanti Bhushan, Magsaysay awardee Arvind Kejriwal and Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde had discussed the proposed bill as part of a committee that had also comprised five Union ministers. The meetings ended in differences. “We hope these differences will be sorted out and a strong Lok Pal Bill introduced in Parliament,” Bhushan said. If the government tried to suppress the movement, then public discontent would rise, he warned.

Till date, a Lok Pal Bill has been introduced eight times in Parliament but has never got ahead due to lack of political support.

On illegal mining in Karnataka, Bhushan said, “Mining resources under private hands breeds corruption. Also, it puts the environment and local populace into danger due to illegal mining,” he added.

He said government should emphasise on participatory democracy by holding referendums on important public issues to get proper feedback. “With technology, feedback of each Indian citizen can be recorded by the state. It will usher an era of participatory democracy.”