Hazare bats for 'strong' Lokpal without political interference

Social activist Anna Hazare today batted for a "strong" Delhi JanLokpal Bill, while stating that he would approach Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to bring necessary changes in the legislation to make appointment and removal of the Ombudsman free from political interference.
He said the current legislation gives the Delhi Lokpal the scope to investigate Union government officials and Ministers, a point over which the Centre may not give its nod, hereby blocking the law.
The 2014 Bill and the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill were strong Bills, he said.
"I will tell Arvind ji (Kejriwal) that if you had brought a Bill in 2014, so what is the hurdle in bringing back that Bill. Our belief is if Lokpal law has to be legislated then it should be strong," Hazare said.

Hazare's comments came after his meeting with Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan in his village at Ralegaon Siddhi. Bhushan was a part of the India Against Corruption forum of the 2011 anti-corruption Janklokpal movement led by Hazare.
Both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and Swaraj Abhiyan, a group led by expelled party leaders Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, are hoping to get Hazare on their side to get an upper hand in the ongoing tussle over the Bill.

Hazare has already supported the proposed legislation, which has been tabled by the Delhi government in the Assembly, albeit with riders.
"Prashant ji told me about the new law, but it has some flaws. We need a strong Lokpal. When we protested for a strong Lokpal in 2011, we had demanded that there should be no political interference in his removal or appointment. The 2014 Bill and the Uttarkhand Lokpal have some good provisions.

"If these changes are brought in and if the Centre still blocks the legislation, then I will myself take a plunge in this agitation," Hazare said.
Bhushan has been maintaining that the current Bill is a "diluted" version of the one that was tabled in 2014 in terms of several provisions including that in appointment, removal and jurisdiction of the ombudsman.
Hazare had also met AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Kumar Vishwas earlier this week on the issue.