Digvijay urges Hazare to follow Constitution

Hazare is set to observe a fast-unto-death in Delhi from August 16 to oppose the government version of the Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill,which has kept the Prime Minister,judiciary and federal lawmakers out of its ambit,triggering a public outcry.

Hazare’s proposed fast seems to have ruffled fathers in the government,which is wary of the intense public support to the movement against corruption that was felt and seen in the social activist’s similar campaign in New Delhi in April.

Speaking to mediapersons,Singh lashed out at Hazare for refusing to call off his campaign against the government-drafted version of the Lokpal Bill by contending elected lawmakers,and not ‘street protestors,’ had the right to frame legislations.

“First and foremost,I want to again urge Anna Hazare to follow the tenets of the Indian Constitution. According to the very Constitution on which Anna Hazare has sought the attention of the Prime Minister,the right to frame laws has not been given to people on the streets,but the parliament,” said Singh.

In a bid to derail Hazare’s campaign,the Congress party,citing an earlier judicial probe report,accused Hazare’s Hind Swaraj Trust of corrupt practices.

According to certain news channels,the report,drafted by Justice P B Sawant in 2005,revealed certain financial irregularities observed in the transactions of the trust.

In fact,earlier in the day,Sawant stirred a hornet’s nest by saying the trust’s funds were spent to celebrate Hazare’s birthday.

Citing the Sawant Commission report,Singh said Hazare had been misled by his aides,who themselves were indulging in corruption right under his very nose.

“Anna Hazare has always been surrounded by people and aides who have been exploiting him for their own gains. Hazare is a very decent and simple person; he does not understand many things. Even the Justice Sawant Commission said the same thing,that right under Hazare’s nose,many of his associates made money without his knowledge,” added Singh.

The much-debated Lokpal Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha on August 4.

The draft was later sent to a Parliamentary Standing Committee,comprising leaders from across the national political spectrum,for its approval.

Incidentally,Hazare and other civil society members also discussed the Bill”s provisions in the first meeting of the committee,but adopted a tough stance on the issue soon later,demanding the government immediately withdraw its draft.

While the civil society activists including Anna Hazare and his team have garnered public support against the government”s draft Bill,the government is in a rush to get the bill passed in the Parliament.