All eyes were on the all-party meet called by the Congress-led UPA government to iron out difference over the most-talked about Lokpal Bill. After three hours of meeting people are being told that parties couldn’t come up to any consensus. This happened despite the fact that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought cooperation to end the political gridlock that has pitched the government against anti-graft activists led by Anna Hazare.
The meeting came to an end as political parties of all hue couldn’t come to consensus over many crucial issues like the inclusion of PM and lower bureaucracy in the bill. BJP that is in opposition demanded that investigative agency CBI to be brought under Lokpal.
There were other issues also that led to differences.
It appears that no political party is serious about Lokpal. They know that its implementation in full would make their life difficult. The BJP that is taking anti-Congress stands knows the some day it will also form government at the centre. Then obviously the Congress will have the upper hand to expose the ruling BJP. It is a Catch-22 situation for political parties.
In front of voters they want to present a clean image by supporting Anna Hazare’s anti-graft crusade. But they also want the movement not to be successful as it would give the group extra power to bring the government on its toes whenever it wants.
Also, success of the Anna movement will embolden other groups to come forward and mount pressure on the government to accede to their demands, undermining India’s democratic system. Is the political class ready for such drastic changes?
The meeting came to an end as political parties of all hue couldn’t come to consensus over many crucial issues like the inclusion of PM and lower bureaucracy in the bill. BJP that is in opposition demanded that investigative agency CBI to be brought under Lokpal.
There were other issues also that led to differences.
It appears that no political party is serious about Lokpal. They know that its implementation in full would make their life difficult. The BJP that is taking anti-Congress stands knows the some day it will also form government at the centre. Then obviously the Congress will have the upper hand to expose the ruling BJP. It is a Catch-22 situation for political parties.
In front of voters they want to present a clean image by supporting Anna Hazare’s anti-graft crusade. But they also want the movement not to be successful as it would give the group extra power to bring the government on its toes whenever it wants.
Also, success of the Anna movement will embolden other groups to come forward and mount pressure on the government to accede to their demands, undermining India’s democratic system. Is the political class ready for such drastic changes?
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