4 demands ''non-negotiable'': Team Anna

Shanti Bhushan to lead Delhi fast at Ramlila grounds

PTI | December 26, 2011



Hours ahead of the three-day fast for a strong Lokpal, Team Anna today cited four "non- negotiable" demands, including providing an independent probe agency for the ombudsman, to resolve the issue and said they could call off their 'jail bharo' agitation if government agrees to their version.

Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said a three-day relay fast, led by Shanti Bhushan, will be held at Ramlila Maidan from tomorrow between 10 AM and 6 PM to support Hazare who will be on hunger strike in Mumbai.

"In the open letter to the Prime Minister and MPs, Team Anna has asked for four changes, which are non-negotiable, for other changes we can continue our fight later," he said.

The demands were Lokpal and Lokayuktas should have power to suo moto initiate their own investigations, the obmudsman should be able to carry out independent probe, selection of Lokpal should be through consensus of selection panel and bringing lower bureaucracy under direct control of Lokpal.

"If Lokpal has an independent investigative wing, the government can keep control over CBI," he told reporters.

On the selection of the Lokpal, Bhushan said it should be through the consensus of the selection panel and not as suggested in the Government's version of the Bill, and the Lokpal's removal should be independent of government's control.

Bhushan said people have been requested to hold dharna outside houses of MPs who either oppose a strong Lokpal Bill or support the government bill in Parliament. "But we can call off this, if government brings in amendments to address the four points," he said.

The Team Anna members also said they were not against any political party or MP, since it shows that the government is not ready to accept the views of 80 per cent of the population.

"The statements by Sonia Gandhi and the government shows that power has gone to their head and they understand only one language -- of vote, so we have asked the people of five poll bound states not to vote for those who opppose the Jan Lokpal Bill," Bhushan said.

When asked about Election Commission's view that they will keep a watch on Team Anna members, he said, they have the right to keep an eye on everyone, but we will not violate any code and just make the common man aware of which party is against the Bill.

Alleging that verbal attacks on Anna Hazare was an effort by the government to provoke youth and defame the movement, Team Anna members made an appeal to all to maintain calm during the agitation.

Comments

 

Other News

Rubio denies US foreknowledge of Starlink restrictions in Ukraine

US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said he was unfamiliar with the Wall Street Journal report suggesting Elon Musk had decided to throttle Starlink services in Ukraine, but rejected claims that Washington had ordered the restrictions to pressure Kyiv.   “There was no

Can AI change India’s breast cancer story?

Breast cancer has become a public-health challenge in India. The greatest opportunity is to find cancers earlier. Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening a new era in breast cancer detection. AI systems can analyse mammograms and other breast-imaging studies, identify subtle abnormalities and assist radi

Farm stability in the time of climate change

Indian agriculture is experiencing significant climate volatility, while the world economy seems to be in a highly volatile situation. Economic indices from various countries show that they need to recalibrate their strategies to withstand economic headwinds. In such a challenging situation, a country li

El Niño threatens India’s Rabi crops

India’s southwest monsoon ended with a 13% rainfall deficit in 2026, its weakest performance in a decade, raising concerns over agricultural production, water security and the upcoming rabi season. With El Niño expected to persist into early 2027, experts warn that declining soil moisture, dep

Regulating the data advantage: India’s new e-Commerce framework

For over a decade, India’s e-commerce story has rested on a simple premise: platforms connect buyers and sellers, while data fuels efficiency, personalisation, and scale. However, as the market matured, its structure has revealed a growing imbalance. E-commerce platforms, especially marketplace ent

Changing weather patterns, climate change responsible for Nepal floods

The interaction between active Western Disturbances, increased atmospheric moisture and the region’s complex topography aswell as global warming are important factors behind intense rainfall in the Himalayas, leading to flash floods in Nepal, according to meteorologists. Nepal

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter