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From 27 December 2011

Government has cheated the People again
In the last one year, Anna risked his life twice. Annas demand was to get a strong Lokpal to punish the corrupt. In August, govt introduced a weak Lokpal Bill. And the present one is further more weak. Rather than restricting, it will promote corruption. A letter by Anna Hazare to Prime Minister is attached explaining how the govt. has cheated its people. How Govts Lokpal is weaker to peoples Jan Lokpal

Govts Lokpal
This Bill is against the people. The jurisdiction of this Bill covers trusts of temples, mosques, churches, womens groups, sports clubs, youth clubs, labour & farmer unions, Press clubs, Rotary clubs, Lion clubs, hospitals, dispensaries, RWAs, all NGOs and movements. All the persons working here, whether as Pandits, Maulavis, Fathers, Nuns, teachers, doctors, etc are deemed to be govt servants. Whereas only 10% politicians and 5% bureaucrats are kept under its purview, 90% political leaders, 95% babus, corporates and all political parties are out of Lokpals jurisdiction. Selection procedure of Lokpal is completely under govts control. Three of the five members of selection committee are members of the govt. Selection procedure will also be decided by the selection committee.

Jan Lokpal
All politicians, govt. servants, corporates paying bribes, organizations receiving govt. aids, will be under the jurisdiction of Jan Lokpal.

The power to dismiss the members of Lokpal is with the govt. Lokpal can be removed only by Parliamentarians and govt.

Govt. will have no control over the selection procedure. Two politicians, four jurists and heads of four constitutional bodies will form the selection committee. The Bill mentions a detailed selection procedure, which will totally be transparent and will also incorporate the views of the people. The power to dismiss the Lokpal will be with the Supreme Court. Any common man can get the Lokpal terminated by filing a petition court.

Lokpal has no authority to investigate cases of corruption & has to depend on CBI for the same. CBI is under govts control. We have been witnessing how govt. manipulates it to protect the corrupt and many a times also uses it to put the rivals in trouble. Lower bureaucracy which deals with the common man on day-to-day basis has been kept out of Lokpal. For the first time in our independent India, govt. will provide free lawyers to corrupt politicians and public servants. In order to register a case against the complainant, govt. will provide free legal aid to accused politicians and public servants. On one hand, the case against the accused can be filed in about 2 years, while the case against complainant can be lodged the very next day. The power to remove the corrupt officials will be with the Minister of his department, and not the Lokpal. Ministers have a track record of not permitting probe against corrupt, as they are a signatory to it. How can we expect them to dismiss their corrupt babus! What would happen if the Lokpal officials turn corrupt? Lokpal will probe itself. But can we expect Lokpal to act against its own officers in an unbiased manner? Citizens raising voice against corruption are often harassed, threatened and even killed. Govts Bill provides no protection to these whistleblowers. Maximum punishment for corruption is 10 years imprisonment. But no punishment for corporates who pay the bribe.

CBI will be the investigative wing of Lokpal. It will be free from govts control.

All govt. servants from top to bottom will be under Jan Lokpal.

There is no such provision.

There is no such provision.

The power to remove the corrupt officials will be with the independent Jan Lokpal.

Complaints against Lokpal staff will be dealt through an independent mechanism. Lokpal will be responsible for protection of whistleblowers

Maximum punishment for corruption will be life imprisonment. Corrupt companies will be black listed. No govt tender will further be given to them. The loss done to exchequer will be recovered by penalizing the company with five times the lost amount. (This movement has no relation to any political party)

www.indiaagainstcorruption.org indiaagainstcorruption.2010@gmail.com Jail Bharo: www.jailchalo.com SMS Jail<City Name> to 575758. Helpline: 9718500606. www.facebook.com/IndiACor India Against Corruption, A-119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad.

Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister, Govt of India Respected Prime Minister,

Date: 17/12/11

Corruption is a burning issue today. It has become difficult for a common man to lead his life. Price rises, income doesnt. And a big reason for inflation is unchecked corruption. And, it is sad that all govts have been merely playing politics over the issue. In the past 43 years, the Lokpal Bill has been tabled in the Parliament 8 times, but never got passed. In the last one year, govt made many promises, which were never met. 1.When I sat on indefinite fast from April 5, govt agreed to form a joint committee to draft the Lokpal Bill. The 10-member joint committee comprised of 5 members from the govt and 5 from our side. We expected the joint committee to draft a strong Lokpal but govt did not intend to do so. Govt rejected our key proposals in the joint panel. From this Committee, two versions of the Bill emerged- Govt & our version. It was decided that cabinet would consider both versions, but the govt defied again. Govt presented only its version of the Bill before the cabinet. And if such were the intentions to begin with, why was the joint committee formed at all? 2. In July, the govt repeatedly assured of a strong Lokpal, but the Bill tabled in August protected the corrupt instead of punishing them. The nation felt cheated yet again. 3. On 16th August, when we started our agitation against this weak Bill, govt put us in jail with the very same people against whom we are fighting. We were accused of being a threat to law and order. Initially we were detained for 7 days, but released within hours. We couldnt comprehend, if ever, we were a threat, how did the threat wither away within hours? If the govt could arrest and release any person anytime, I thought do we even follow the rule of law? 4. After being released, I continued my indefinite fast from Ramlila Maidan. On 27th August, Parliament passed Sense of the House mentioning that Citizens Charter, entire bureaucracy and Lokayukta for states will be incorporated in the Lokpal Bill through a proper mechanism. Honorable Pranab Mukherjee stated so in both the Houses. And you also wrote a letter to me stating the same, requesting me to end my fast. Hence, on Aug 28, I ended my fast. A copy of this Sense of the House was sent to Shri Abhishek Manu Singhvi, chairman of Parliamentary standing committee. Unfortunately, it was contempt of Parliament, when Shri Singhvi did not incorporate two points of the Sense of the House. What is the future of our democracy when the chairman of Parliamentary standing committee dismisses Parliaments resolution? And thus the Lokpal report by the standing committee was another betrayal. 5. I was taken aback, when on Dec 13, in your presence the cabinet approved the Citizens Charter Bill. As per the Sense of the House, it should have been a part of

the Lokpal Bill. You had mentioned this in your letter to me. Why did you deviate from your own assurance? Its now being said that this Citizens Charter Bill will again be sent to the standing committee and it will again take four more months. Dont you ever think that the nation is being cheated again and again? This attitude of your govt is not justified. 6. In your letter written to me in the past few months, you promised to pass a strong Lokpal Bill. Respecting your promise, we restrained our andolan till the Winter session. As per the reports in media, the Winter session ends on Dec 23. Will the Bill get passed in Winter session? We suspect it. 7. Will the govt give us a strong Lokpal Bill? Media reports following suspicions a) We suggested that the anti-corruption wing of CBI could be made the inquiry agency of Lokpal. Govt doesnt seem to be ready for it. Both BJP & Congress govts have misused CBI. False charges are put on rival parties to save ones govt. It appears, govt in no way is prepared to give up its control over CBI. In that case, Will Lokpal have no investigative powers? Without an investigative agency, what is the purpose of Lokpal? Its better we dont have such a Lokpal. b) The selection procedure suggested by standing committee is faulty. The selection committee has politicians in majority against whom the Lokpal is supposed to investigate. There is no mention of the composition of search committee. There is no mention of selection procedure too. This infers that a few politicians will sit in the selection committee and make whosoever they want as the member of Lokpal. Hence, its obvious that such a Lokpal will be weak and corrupt. Other than this, there are several other defects in the standing committees report. You and your govt have been assuring us a strong Lokpal. According to your assurance, if a strong, independent & effective Lokpal is not passed in this Winter session, I will be forced to sit on indefinite fast from Dec 27. There will be Jail Bharo andolan across India from Dec 30. As, I have mentioned earlier, I do not bother even if I sacrifice my life in this noble and needed struggle. But, I have full faith that you will fulfill your promise and not betray the nation again. Yours sincerely Anna Hazare

www.indiaagainstcorruption.org indiaagainstcorruption.2010@gmail.com Jail Bharo: www.jailchalo.com SMS Jail<City Name> to 575758. Helpline: 9718500606. www.facebook.com/IndiACor India Against Corruption, A-119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad.