As the Jan Lokpal talks gather momentum, negotiators and decision-makers are feeling the heat of our people-powered movement. The pressure is working, so let's ramp it up. This May Day citizens will march against corruption all across India. To all those politicians who think they can smear, delay, or outlast us, this is our chance to show that our movement is just getting started.
To make the most impact we have to create noise everywhere - in the streets, online, on facebook, and in the halls of power. Three weeks ago, Anna Hazare declared a fast unto death until the government agreed to let civil society draft the Jan Lokpal bill. In just over 36 hours, 650,000 of us stood with Hazare to demand action. Four days later, we won! Proving that people power can prevail over the poison of political corruption. The struggle won't be easy. Last week, poisonous allegations, contradictory reports and false scandals aimed to discredit civil society leaders and divide our movement inundated the press. But we reacted immediately -- launching a rapid response campaign with tens of thousands of us calling on PM Singh to rein in the smear campaign. This week, the smear machine seems to have gone quiet! We're winning, let keep the momentum going. As you all know, Anna Hazare led the fight against Government to introduce the Lokpal bill. But many politicians (from all parties) are against it as it will completely curb the corruption and politicians will not be able to make out any money.
Many politicians are opposing Lokpal bill by giving reasons like it is difficult to follow this bill or it is complicated process, etc. Given below are the reasons how the procedures of Lokpal bill are different from existing Indian political system.
1. Existing System: No politician or senior officer ever goes to jail despite huge evidence because Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) and CBI directly come under the government. Before starting investigation or initiating prosecution in any case, they have to take permission from the same bosses, against whom the case has to be investigated.
Proposed System: Lokpal at centre and Lokayukta at state level will be independent bodies. ACB and CBI will be merged into these bodies. They will have power to initiate investigations and prosecution against any officer or politician without needing anyones permission. Investigation should be completed within 1 year and trial to get over in next 1 year. Within two years, the corrupt should go to jail.
2. Existing System: No corrupt officer is dismissed from the job because Central Vigilance Commission, which is supposed to dismiss corrupt officers, is only an advisory body. Whenever it advises government to dismiss any senior corrupt officer, its advice is never implemented.
Proposed System: Lokpal and Lokayukta will have complete powers to order dismissal of a corrupt officer. CVC and all departmental vigilance will be merged into Lokpal and state vigilance will be merged into Lokayukta.
3. Existing System :No action is taken against corrupt judges because permission is required from the Chief Justice of India to even register an FIR against corrupt judges.
Proposed System: Lokpal & Lokayukta shall have powers to investigate and prosecute any judge without needing anyone’s permission.
4. Existing System: Nowhere to go - People expose corruption but no action is taken on their complaints.
Proposed System: Lokpal & Lokayukta will have to enquire into and hear every complaint.
5. Existing System: There is so much corruption within CBI and vigilance departments. Their functioning is so secret that it encourages corruption within these agencies.
Proposed System: All investigations in Lokpal & Lokayukta shall be transparent. After completion of investigation, all case records shall be open to public. Complaint against any staff of Lokpal & Lokayukta shall be enquired and punishment announced within two months.
6. Existing System:Weak and corrupt people are appointed as heads of anti-corruption agencies.
Proposed System: Politicians will have absolutely no say in selections of Chairperson and members of Lokpal & Lokayukta. Selections will take place through a transparent and public participatory process.
7. Existing System: Citizens face harassment in government offices. Sometimes they are forced to pay bribes. One can only complaint to senior officers. No action is taken on complaints because senior officers also get their cut.
Proposed System: Lokpal & Lokayukta will get public grievances resolved in time bound manner, impose a penalty of Rs 250 per day of delay to be deducted from the salary of guilty officer and award that amount as compensation to the aggrieved citizen.
8. Existing System: Nothing in law to recover ill-gotten wealth. A corrupt person can come out of jail and enjoy that money.
Propopsed System: Loss caused to the government due to corruption will be recovered from all accused.
9. Existing System: Small punishment for corruption - Punishment for corruption is minimum 6 months and maximum 7 years.
Proposed System: Enhanced punishment - The punishment would be minimum 5 years and maximum of life imprisonment.
I do not understand why none of the reader posted a single comment on such an informative article brought by Niz Goenkar. People should read and know thee important things and say "Bravo" to Anna Hazare who took so much courage to pressurise the Indian government to finally agree to bring in the Lok Pal Bill. Not a single soul was harmed on the streets neither Anna Hazare asked for people's sacrifices. He did it alone in the fragile condition of his life. The present set of law was written by the blind to benefit the politicians and criminals.
ReplyDeleteHope this bill willl give teeth tot he common man and make the backbone strong. We know that the politicians won't like this to happen and would like to derail the whole process in many ways but the reality is the common man will benefit from this bill once it becomes a law.
Hi Dalia:
ReplyDeleteI am quite sure the Lok Pal Bill , will become a hotly discussed topic.
It is slowly gaining momentum.
The Bill is constantly being stalled, by Corrupt Politicians,as they are fully aware ,many of them are atually at the centre of it, and will be caught out and caught out red-handed in due course.
Wikileaks too has been promising to reveal information of Bank Accounts held in Foreign Banks by these Corrupt Goan MLA`s .
My estimate is Churchill & the Alemao family, & clan will be the biggest scoundrels.
They were all scoundrels from the very day they were born.All they have sone since is wear a mask.
Hope this bill will remove their mask.
The Herald Newspaper may go into the "red", finiancially, after this too.
The Herald is like Churchills Arch-Angel & is Churchills messenger of good tidings.However we Goans know differently.