Cong’s shrewd political move

The note of dissent given by three Congress MPs to Lokpal draft, which is under the examination of Standing Committee of Parliament, is aimed giving out the message that it is as much serious to fight corruption as any other else in the country. But the way ruling Congress party is acting on the anti-corruption mechanism amply reflects that it is not serious.

Corruption is the most serious issue that Dr. Manmohan Singh Government is facing. To fight the corruption out, Gandhian and social activist Anna Hazare had held a 12-day fast and protest at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi in the month of August this year. He galvanized the entire country, especially the youths against corruption.

The public mood was so intense against corruption during the 12-day protest and fast of Anna that the Government and the Parliament together had to respect and give assurance of conceding to incorporate three main demands in Lokpal bill. He was also assured by the government that it would be introduced in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. Political class became so nervous that all political parties had to pass a sense of the House to bring the Lokpal Bill in the winter session of Parliament.

The Lokpal Bill is going to be given the final touch by the Standing Committee of Parliament. It is to be introduced in Parliament on December 19 in all likelihood. The main demand of Team Anna is the inclusion group C and D employees under the ambit of Lokpal as the common people face first hurdle of corruption in getting any work done at these two levels. If any one has to make driving license, he is not required to go to Regional Transport Officer but to the level of group C and D level employees.

But according to the sources, they have been kept out of Lokpal. Hazare and his team members rightly say that the general people face these employees from where they start corrupt practices. If the group C and D employees are left out of anti-graft mechanism, there is no sense in bringing and adopting Lokpall.

Prime Minister to be kept or not under Lokpall has been left to be decided by the Parliament. CBI is also going to be out of the Lokpall. The role of ruling Congress party has been perceived as negative by Anna Hazare and his team. They have sent out the message among the public that Congress is not interested in fighting corruption. That is why the ruling party is reluctant to accede to all his demands.

To counter the loss of image in public, the Congress MPs close to party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi have given notes of dissent. They are in Standing Committee from the Congress party. It is a shrewd political move of Congress to show the public how serious their young MPs are in fighting corruption and that is why they want strong Lokpal.