In all the events that have unfolded since Anna Hazare’s fast at Jantar Mantar” the government side has been surprisingly reasonable and accommodating. It went out of the way to form a joint Lokpal Bill draft committee. Anna was authorised to name his team. Most of his proposals have been incorporated in the bill which the government wants to place before the all party meeting on the July 3. Unfortunately it has not satisfied Anna’s team. Anna’s team, again surprisingly, has been arrogant and paranoid. The bill is yet to go to the all party meeting before it is tabled in the parliament via the cabinet; and Anna Hazare has already announced his programme for August 16. Anshan, Lathis, Bullets.
The most dismal has been the role of the BJP, the main opposition. Instead of waiting for the all party meeting being called they could have expressed their opinion more openly. They had ample opportunities on the 24×7 television and print media. They could have influenced both the government as well as Anna’s team to bring about a draft bill generally acceptable not only to the government and Anna but also to the opposition.
Dr Mookhi Amir Ali
Mumbai, M.S.