LOK PAL BILL DRAFTING COMMITTEE
SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST
MEMBERS FROM CIVIL SOCIETY SIDE
Why could we not pass the Lok Pal Bill in last 42 years?
It is said, that the first Lokpal Bill was passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but it could not get through in Rajya Sabha; subsequently, Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, yet they were never passed and its pending.
Some body is definitely interested in introducing. But, some body is definitely interested in stalling. So, it could not be passed.
But, who is interested in stalling the Bill – and why?
Now, there is a momentum from Government side and from civil side both, to draft the bill and get it passed in Parliament this year itself.
But, some people here and there are obviously and definitely interested in carrying on a smear campaign against the civil society members and other “fighters against Corruption” and see that the drafting of a strong Lok pal bill will not fructify – before the deadline or even after that.
Now, they want to find at least some small charge against all crusaders of corruption!! Even if it relates to periods long ago.
The main question therefore is – W H Y EXACTLY N O W ??
I tell them - My dear Sirs, you won’t gain any thing if you win – in proving X or Y from the civil society or some one fighting corruption to have been corrupt in some sense in a small way at some long time in the past.
But, the whole country will lose – forever. What could not be passed for 42 years will remain without being passed for next 42 years too.
Yes, Sir. No one in India can perhaps be 100 percent free from all corruption. May be, you can prove it also against most Indians.
I am not denigrating my fellow Indians in this. We, the 99.9% of Indians want to be honest. But, the moment I step into the street, just to protect myself, feed my self, do the smallest things for my family, I have to indulge in corruption today, in our great Country. Don’t you see that at all? And sir, do you want that to continue in India, forever?
There is a stinking atmosphere of corruption all around us today – and therefore the civil society members have come forward to fight this in some way through the Lok pal Bill.
There are many, many others also fighting corruption, as Individuals, in their own small way, all over India. Don’t we see that many RTI activists are even getting killed – merely for seeking information about corrupt people and guilty people? And, what is India doing about them?
I therefore very strongly appeal to every one – stop all of your smear campaigns against ALL LOK PAL BILL DRAFTING COMMITTEE MEMBERS – FROM CIVIL SOCIETY SIDE, AND GOVERNMENT SIDE – and support the Bill whole heartedly and ensure that it becomes a reality. If you have any real problems against any member – fight your private battles later, after the Bill becomes a reality.
But, all the same – I know that, some one or other will be attacking all the active members fighting corruption on some ground or other – because, that was how, Lok pal bill could not become a reality for so long.
Therefore, I am making the following proposal /appeal to ensure that a strong LOK PAL BILL becomes a reality in India.
AN APPEAL TO
THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA
I appeal to the Prime Minister of India, Shri Manmohan Singh, in whom I do have immense confidence, to confer the status of Cabinet Ministers on the Drafting committee members, till the Bill is drafted, introduced in Parliament, argued in Parliament and approved finally and made into a Bill. This is essential to confer on them some immunity from any Petty cases that the smear campaigners may try to lodge against them for their ulterior reasons.
MY FIRST APPEAL TO
CIVIL SOCIETY MEMBERS
My First appeal to you is – Kindly support vigorously my above appeal to the prime minister, so that your aim, my aim, many others’ aim about the success of Lok Pal Bill becomes a reality.
I request every reader of this Blog Post to convey this with their strong support - to the Civil society activists and drafting committee members and those in the Government.
MY SECOND APPEAL TO
CIVIL SOCIETY MEMBERS
Today I saw, Swami Agniveshji saying some thing like this that – we did not level similar charges against the Government members in the committee (and probably retaliate thereby – which seems to be the implication).
I do welcome this statement, and say that you need not and should not retaliate against government members of the committee, who are reasonably clean.
But, please find a way to fight the smear campaigners - as a unified campaign. You, I and all of us must protect all of us from the smear campaigners.
You can’t leave the Bhushans or Anna Hazare or Santosh Hegde or any other fighter against Corruption to fight lone battles, even assuming some small mistakes by any of them.
If We Don’t Protect the
“Fighters Against Corruption”,
Their will be no
“Fight Against Corruption”
The whole of India needs to remember this – and Act.
Arise, Awake, and stop not – till the goal is reached ! (Swami Vivekananda)
* * * E N D * * *
No comments:
Post a Comment