Pressing for a strong Lokpal Bill, members of civil society
organisations led by the former Karnataka Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde and
members of the State unit of India Against Corruption, will start
demonstrations at Freedom Park from July 25.
Addressing presspersons on Friday, Mr. Hegde, a key member of
anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s team, said the demonstrations
will coincide with the indefinite fast in Jantar Mantar by activists
Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Raj and Manish Sisodia.
“Although there has been three sessions since the Parliament agreed in
principle on a strong Lokpal Bill, there are no indications of any such
thing happening. We therefore have no choice but to take to the streets
once again to demonstrate citizens’ frustration,” Mr. Hegde said.
“Although a Lokpal Bill was presented in the Rajya Sabha, it was without
any teeth. It has now been sent to a select committee, which is only to
delay matters further.”
Criminal cases
Pointing out that citizens were now forced to conclude that Lokpal will
never happen, he said: “This is because 162 sitting MPs have pending
criminal cases as per their own affidavits declared with the Election
Commission of India and no major political party is willing to pass a
strong and effective anti-corruption law because it will destroy them.
That apart, 14 Cabinet Ministers in the Central government have cases
pending against them.”
Same venue
In Bangalore, Freedom Park will once again become the venue to bring together diverse sections of society from July 25.
The demands will include setting up of a special investigation team
(SIT) to probe and report the allegations against 15 corrupt Ministers
within six months, handing over pending cases against all corrupt party
leaders to SIT for independent investigations and setting up of fast
track courts to pass judgment on allegations against 162 MPs in Lok
Sabha within six months, he said.
H.S. Doreswamy, freedom fighter, said a second freedom movement is the
need of the hour. “I am happy to see the desire for change. I am 94 and I
want the change to happen in my lifetime,” he added.-TH-
