Jan Lokpal Bill cannot be passed in a hurry - Pejawar Seer

Jan Lokpal Bill cannot be passed in a hurry - Pejawar Seer

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, August 24: Speaking about the confusion in the Jan Lokpal Bill, Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji, the influential head of the Pejawar Mutt, urged Anna Hazare to temporarily withdraw his fast and create an opportunity to thoroughly discuss the Jan Lokpal Bill. 

The seer has written a letter to Mr. Hazare, in which he has stated that the Jan Lokpal Bill has a number of ambiguities and that it is not possible to pass the bill by the end of this month because of these ambiguities. The seer has spoken of the need to clear these ambiguities through debate before passing the bill. 

Since the prime minister comes under the ambit of the Jan Lokpal Bill, there are possibilities of the PM becoming its victim even in cases where he is not guilty, wrote the seer and quoted experts’ opinion that this might result in political stability throughout the nation. He also mentioned that experts have demanded that corporate, religious, and educational institutions should also be included under this bill, adding that politicians are not the only corrupt people in the nation. 

Questioning about whether it is possible for the Jan Lokpal to handle hundreds and thousands of cases related to cabinet ministers, government officials, MPs, judges, and legislative assemblies, the seer also questioned the practicability of the proposal, the way in which the Lokpal is to be elected, measures to be taken if the members of the Jan Lokpal turn out to be corrupt, and so on. He said that all these questions need to be taken into consideration before reaching a hasty decision. 

Urging Hazare to check his emotions, he spoke of the necessity of thoroughly discussing the issue before finalizing the bill. While acknowledging that the government’s version of the bill was too weak to control corruption, the seer said that the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill should be thoroughly reconsidered before passing it. 

While stating that the nation is proud of the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, the seer expressed his hopes that Team Anna will take his suggestions under consideration.