RALEGAN SIDDHI: Anna Hazare isn't taking his eyes off Parliament yet and his next campaign, announced on Saturday, will demand annual performance audits of MPs, right to recall elected representatives, right to reject candidates contesting elections and mandatory approval of gram sabha before acquiring any land.
"Hazare will send the letter shortly and seek Prime Minister's views on these three vital issues", said Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, who briefed the media after the first session of a two-day meeting of the core team. The meeting was attended by Hazare, Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia and Medha Patkar.
Kejriwal said Anna wanted an audit of MPs to fix responsibility. "On December 23, 2008 the parliament passed 17 bills and in the period between 2004 to 2009 only 89 MPs spoke in the house which raised questions about their functioning. The MPs are elected to run the country hence their annual performance audit is essential," he said.
He said Anna will also seek the PM's views on the demand for the right to recall and right to reject if any of the candidates contesting election did not meet people's expectations. "There should be an option 'none of the above' in the electronic voting machine and if this option gets the maximum votes then re-election should be ordered. Team Anna will also meet the chief election commissioner to demand that `the none of the above' option be given during the forthcoming civic elections. We feel that it can be done," Kejriwal stated.
He said that Team Anna was not happy with the way the land acquisition bill was passed without any discussion. "We demand that the bill should be redrafted to include a provision that makes gram sabha's approval mandatory before acquiring any land. The gram sabha will have to be given additional powers which will lead to decentralization of power," he said.
Kiran Bedi said the decision on the future course of Team Anna was unanimous. "The Prime Minister has assured us that the Janlokpal bill will be passed in the winter session, so we will keep a watch," she said.
edha Patkar said that as the Janlokpal bill and land acquisition bill were before the standing committee, people would soon know what stand the members take. "Our fight will continue till we achieve the goal," she said.
The meeting started at 11.30am and ended at 4.30pm. Team Anna member Santosh Hegde left the meeting at 3.30 pm but before leaving the venue - the Padmavati Bhakta Niwas, he told reporters that he was happy with the decisions.
BOX 1
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal refuted the charge leveled by activist Aruna Roy about team Anna not being ready for discussion on the Janlokpal bill. "She is not speaking right. We did discuss the bill with her on April 3,4, 16 and end of April. We also went to meet her later but she did not let us into her house. There is talk about Arunaji's draft of the Lokpal bill, but let me tell you that she has only written a concept note and not prepared any draft," Kejriwal said.
He said that there was difference of opinion with Arunaji on three issues. "Anna's draft wants the Lokpal to start inquiry against a Prime Minister if charges of corruption are made against him and file a first information report (FIR). Arunaji wants Supreme Court's approval before filing the FIR. Secondly she wants complaint of corruption against low rank government officials to be filed with the police and not the Lokpal but we don't agree with this. She is also opposed to recovery of fine from the salaries of officials if they did not follow the time limit for doing work as stipulated in the citizens' charter," he said adding that they were still ready to have an open discussion with Roy on these issues if she was ready.
BOX 2
Social crusader Anna Hazare on Saturday urged people not to vote for MPs who oppose the Janlokpal bill. Addressing a small rally of volunteers before starting the core committee meeting, Hazare, "Don't vote for them in the next general elections. Also gherao the homes of MPs and put pressure on them to pass the Janlokpal bill."
He also appealed to volunteers to keep the movement going till India becomes free from corruption. "If the government does any 'hera-pheri' with the Janlokpal bill, we will again start an agitation at Jantar Mantar."
"Hazare will send the letter shortly and seek Prime Minister's views on these three vital issues", said Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, who briefed the media after the first session of a two-day meeting of the core team. The meeting was attended by Hazare, Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia and Medha Patkar.
Kejriwal said Anna wanted an audit of MPs to fix responsibility. "On December 23, 2008 the parliament passed 17 bills and in the period between 2004 to 2009 only 89 MPs spoke in the house which raised questions about their functioning. The MPs are elected to run the country hence their annual performance audit is essential," he said.
He said Anna will also seek the PM's views on the demand for the right to recall and right to reject if any of the candidates contesting election did not meet people's expectations. "There should be an option 'none of the above' in the electronic voting machine and if this option gets the maximum votes then re-election should be ordered. Team Anna will also meet the chief election commissioner to demand that `the none of the above' option be given during the forthcoming civic elections. We feel that it can be done," Kejriwal stated.
He said that Team Anna was not happy with the way the land acquisition bill was passed without any discussion. "We demand that the bill should be redrafted to include a provision that makes gram sabha's approval mandatory before acquiring any land. The gram sabha will have to be given additional powers which will lead to decentralization of power," he said.
Kiran Bedi said the decision on the future course of Team Anna was unanimous. "The Prime Minister has assured us that the Janlokpal bill will be passed in the winter session, so we will keep a watch," she said.
edha Patkar said that as the Janlokpal bill and land acquisition bill were before the standing committee, people would soon know what stand the members take. "Our fight will continue till we achieve the goal," she said.
The meeting started at 11.30am and ended at 4.30pm. Team Anna member Santosh Hegde left the meeting at 3.30 pm but before leaving the venue - the Padmavati Bhakta Niwas, he told reporters that he was happy with the decisions.
BOX 1
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal refuted the charge leveled by activist Aruna Roy about team Anna not being ready for discussion on the Janlokpal bill. "She is not speaking right. We did discuss the bill with her on April 3,4, 16 and end of April. We also went to meet her later but she did not let us into her house. There is talk about Arunaji's draft of the Lokpal bill, but let me tell you that she has only written a concept note and not prepared any draft," Kejriwal said.
He said that there was difference of opinion with Arunaji on three issues. "Anna's draft wants the Lokpal to start inquiry against a Prime Minister if charges of corruption are made against him and file a first information report (FIR). Arunaji wants Supreme Court's approval before filing the FIR. Secondly she wants complaint of corruption against low rank government officials to be filed with the police and not the Lokpal but we don't agree with this. She is also opposed to recovery of fine from the salaries of officials if they did not follow the time limit for doing work as stipulated in the citizens' charter," he said adding that they were still ready to have an open discussion with Roy on these issues if she was ready.
BOX 2
Social crusader Anna Hazare on Saturday urged people not to vote for MPs who oppose the Janlokpal bill. Addressing a small rally of volunteers before starting the core committee meeting, Hazare, "Don't vote for them in the next general elections. Also gherao the homes of MPs and put pressure on them to pass the Janlokpal bill."
He also appealed to volunteers to keep the movement going till India becomes free from corruption. "If the government does any 'hera-pheri' with the Janlokpal bill, we will again start an agitation at Jantar Mantar."