Hazare to fight for Jan Lokpal in Sibal's own turf -Governance Now

Hazare to fight for Jan Lokpal in Sibal's own turf

Will mobilise masses in Sibal's Loks Sabha constituency

Danish Raza | July 12, 2011

After approaching various political parties to garner support for their version of the Lokpal bill, team Anna is now planning to mobilise masses.

Starting Friday, the civil society plans to reach out to people in the capital’s Chandni Chowk area- the constituency of Kapil Sibal, union minister for human resources development and a government representative in the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill who has vehemently opposed many key points made by the civil society.

“There are around 14 lakh voters in that constituency. We plan to go to at least half of them,” said a member of Indian Against Corruption, the NGO behind the Lokpal movement, adding that the number of people whom they will approach was still being discussed.

Volunteers will meet the residents at their houses and shops and give them a questionnaire to fill. The idea is to have the opinion of voters on key issues such as bringing the office of the prime minister, higher judiciary and bureaucracy under the Lokpal.

In case the person is found to be unaware of the issue, he or she will be briefed about the same on the spot.

The survey will be finished before Hazare sits on fast on August 16.

The Hazare camp also plans to write to 200 eminent citizens asking them to support their version of the Lokpal bill. The list of 200 includes citizens from various walks of life such as journalists, scientists, lawyers and people from the civil society.

The plan to mobilize masses comes to in the wake of the government and civil society failing to reach on a consensus on key issues regarding the anti-graft body.

The two sides could not break the deadlock in the eight meetings they held in the capital’s North Block.

However, the government has assured that it will pass the bill in the monsoon session of parliament.

The draft of the bill which will be out before the cabinet for discussion has the views of both the sides on key issues.

The civil society representatives have already met leaders of various political parties to lobby for their draft of the bill.

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