New Delhi: Government Rejects Hazare's Proposals on Anti-graft Bill
New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Attempts to break the impasse with anti-corruption crusaders failed again Friday with the government rejecting two of their major demands - having a former Supreme Court judge as head of a committee for drafting an anti-graft law and on notifying the constitution of the panel.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said he had conveyed to Arvind Kejriwal and Swami Agnivesh, two civil society activists backing reformer Anna Hazare who has been on fast for the last four days, the government's disagreement over two of their important proposals.
The civil society leaders had proposed a notification of the committee that will draft the Jan Lokpal Bill and appointing former chief justice of India J.S. Verma or former Supreme Court judge Justice Santosh Hegde as chairman of the panel.
Kapil Sibal said he conveyed to the Anna Hazare's representatives that it was "not possible for the government to issue an official notification" with respect to constitution of the committee.
"But we are willing to issue an official letter from a department of the government, may be the law ministry, to constitute the committee and of course, a press note," he said.
The minister also conveyed to the movement's members that it was "not possible for us to accept the chairmanship of a member of the civil society over this joint drafting committee".
But all other conditions and points raised by Anna Hazare on the formation of the committee was acceptable to the government, he added.
Anna Hazare, who is on a fast-unto-death seeking the anti-graft law for the fourth day since April 6, had also wanted 50 percent of the committee's membership for prominent civil society representatives.
The two sides will meet again at 6 p.m.
'Jail Bharo' Campaign from April 12: Anna Hazare
New Delhi, April 8, (IANS) : As his fast-unto-death entered the fourth day here Friday, social activist Anna Hazare asked supporters to court arrest April 12 under a 'Jail Bharo Andolan' after the government turned down two of his demands on the anti-graft Lokpal Bill.
Hazare's announcement came after Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said two demands of the activists could not be met. These are notification on an anti-corruption panel and for electing former chief justice of India Justice J.S. Verma or former Supreme Court judge Justice Santosh Hegde as chairman of the committee.
Looking determined, Hazare said: "I have made a decision and appeal to you that April 12 will be Jail Bharo Andolan. How can they refuse the people's appeal?
"These people (politicians) who have turned us down will come tomorrow asking for votes and say 'give us a chance to serve you'. When the people are giving you the chance to serve, for the country's good, they turn you down. So people will go to jail to teach them a lesson," he added amid thunderous applause from the ever growing crowd of supporters.
The 72-year-old Gandhian said he would not eat till the government gave a role to civil society in drafting a stringent Lokpal Bill.
Amid the growing sea of supporters which included doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, homemakers, Friday saw actor Anupam Kher and Pritish Nandy sitting at Jantar Mantar in support of the movement.
"I want to thank all the youngsters, the school children, who have come to support this movement," Hazare said.
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