Manmohan slams Hazare: Says his anti-graft hunger strike totally misconceived

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday blasted social activist Anna Hazare over his planned hunger strike for an effective anti-corruption law, saying Hazare has questioned the well-settled principles of enacting laws.

Manmohan told parliament that Hazare has chosen to impose his draft of an anti-corruption bill on parliament.

"It is totally misconceived and fraught with dangerous consequences for our parliamentary democracy."

There are sharp differences between the bill introduced by the government in parliament and the one proposed by Hazare-led civil society activists.

Hazare and his supporters want the prime minister, higher judiciary and actions of lawmakers inside parliament to be brought under the anti-corruption ombudsman law, a demand rejected by the government.

On Tuesday, Hazare was arrested hours before he was about to start a "fast unto death" at a public park for a strong and effective anti-corruption law. The authorities that night issued Hazare's release order but he refused to leave the jail unless he can resume the public protests stopped by his arrest.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha on the arrest and release of Hazare, Manmohan said the social activist "questions the well-settled principle of the executive drafting a law and parliament approving it, if necessary, with changes."

He pointed out that the government has introduced an anti-corruption ombudsman bill in parliament and in the process of adoption of the bill, there will be opportunities for Hazare and others to present their views to the standing committee. The standing committee as well as parliament can modify the bill if they desire to do so.

"I submit that the time-honoured practice is that the executive drafts a bill and places it before parliament and parliament debates and adopts the bill with amendments, if necessary," Manmohan said.

The Indian PM said his government does not seek any confrontation with any section of society "but when some sections of society deliberately challenge the authority of the government and the prerogative of parliament, it is the bounden duty of the government to maintain peace and tranquillity."

He also said, "A functional democracy must allow multiple voices to be heard. But differences of opinion must be resolved through dialogue and consensus."

Source : The Daily Star