Lokpal Bill Introduced In Lok Sabha, Hazare Burns Copies In Protest

The much-debated Lokpal Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday amid objections from the BJP and its NDA partners over exclusion of the Prime Minister from the purview of the proposed legislation.

As government introduced the Lokpal Bill in Parliament, Anna Hazare and his team members burnt copies of the "anti-poor, anti-Dalit" law with the Gandhian asserting that he would go ahead with his fast beginning August 16 till a strong law is brought in.

Hazare and his supporters burnt copies of the Bill introduced in Parliament on Thursday afternoon in Maharashtra's Ralegaon Siddhi while his supporters Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi led the protest in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi area in Ghaziabad.

Amidst sloganeering against government, Hazare said it was the last chance to eradicate corruption from the country and that the protest should be organised all over to ensure that a strong Lokpal Bill is brought in.

"This is a bad and weak Bill which is introduced in Parliament. We need a new and strong Bill. I trusted them when they said they will bring a strong law and ended my fast in April. They cheated me.

"But at the protest starting from August 16, I am not going to withdraw from my fast on some assurances. What we need is a strong bill," he said.

He claimed the government would have fallen if he had continued his fast then for another three days. The government does not fear fast or protests but they fear the voice of people, he said, adding that people should acquire this power to overthrow governments.

However, he said, his protest is not to change the government but system.

Alleging that it was an insult to Parliament and people, Kejriwal described the bill as "anti-poor and anti- Dalit" which does not help the poor in fighting corruption.

BJP for PM under Lokpal

Just before introduction of the bill, Speaker Meira Kumar gave permission to Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj to express her views as a special case under Rule 72.

Swaraj said when the Prime Minister does not enjoy immunity from prosecution under the criminal law and Prevention of Corruption Act, why is he being kept out of the ambit of the Lokpal.

She maintained that as per the Constitution, everybody was equal and there is no immunity from IPC, CrPC or the Prevention of Corruption Act.

"It is for the first time that under Clause 2 of the Lokpal Bill, all Union ministers are included except the Prime Minister. I don't understand why. How can anybody occupying any position be a holy cow. Why is the Prime Minister being kept out of its purview?" Swaraj posed.

She stated that then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had put the debate to rest during NDA rule by saying that if he is not under its purview it will have no meaning. She was referring to the Lokpal Bill proposed by the NDA government which was ultimately not introduced in Parliament.

"As chairperson of the then Standing Committee on Home, Pranab Mukherjee had accepted that the Prime Minister should be within the purview of the Lokpal. The Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) has himself said he wants to be within its ambit. Why is the Cabinet not paying heed to his views?" she asked.

Lokpal Bill draft
The Union Cabinet last month approved a Lokpal Bill draft for introduction in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The draft excludes the prime minister from the purview of the Lokpal.

V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State for PMO, said though the prime minister wanted to come under the purview of the Lokpal, the Cabinet decided to keep the post out. The prime minister would, however, come under Lokpal's purview after demitting office. (Read: Cabinet approves Lokpal draft)

Also out of the ambit are the higher judiciary and the conduct of MPs inside Parliament.

As per the draft, the Lokpal committee will be headed by a chairman and have eight members. The chairman will be from the judiciary and so will be 50 per cent of the members.

Team Anna rejects draft
The Anna Hazare-led civil society team rejected the government's Lokpal Bill draft and demanded that the prime minister be brought under its purview. Hazare has vowed to launch a hunger strike from August 16 in protest. (Read: Referendum backs PM under Lokpal, claims Team Anna)

Hazare's team claims a referendum held among people in Delhi's Chandni Chowk constituency last month showed an overwhelming (85 per cent) support for bringing the prime minister under Lokpal.

Hazare has called the government's version of the Lokpal draft a "joke". (In pics: People's support to Hazare's campaign)

Opposition pressure on govt
Opposition parties have demanded that the Lokpal Bill be given enough teeth to make it effective on the ground. BJP spokesperson Jagat Prakash Nadda has termed the Cabinet-approved Lokpal Bill draft as a "ploy to hoodwink" the people.

TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu too demanded that the pime mnister be brought under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill.