New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed hope today before Annasaheb Hazare could break his 4-day fast in Parliament street area that it augurs well for Indian democracy when the sovereign civil society joins hands with an elected Central Govt to stamp out corruption in all aspects all over India. He went on to say that his UPA govt, intended to introduce the historic legislation on Jan Lokpal through a bill to be finalized by a 10-member committee in a short time, in the coming Monsoon Session of the Parliament. Annasaheb Hazare was still addressing a large rally near Jantar Mantar at 11am today and people were responding to every word he said, with great enthusiasm and understanding.
PM was equally happy about the mutual resolve to combat corruption by Hazare’s popular movement.
PM Singh termed corruption as a scourge (disease) that shamelessly confronted all of us. The civil society and the Central Govt had come together in a largely people’s uprising to tackle and finish off the cancer of national corruption. Singh admitted that the interaction between the Govt. of India and Hazare’s representatives was productive. This time legislation will not falter in its aims of drafting a strong Lokpal Bill, he added.
Hazare’s fast into death in just 4 days had cut across all Indian society to assume huge proportions all over the country, and Hazare himself accepted that it was a victory for the entire country.
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to chair rhe Joint Committee. Hazare broke his fast at 10-30am on Saturday. Shanthi Bhooshan, former Law minister in Janata Party Govt. will be co-chairman of the Bill drafting Committee. Saturday (today) was a historic day in the annals of Indian democracy when people fought corruption.