Is India really fighting against corruption with Anna Hazare?

http://im.rediff.com/getahead/2010/dec/01-iim-a-anti-corruption-helpline-6.jpg

What are the roots of India’s fight against ‘Corruption’?

• 2G spectrum scam resulting into a loss to the exchequer and illegal manipulation of the spectrum allocation process

• Wikileaks of the US embassy secret cables• 2010 fake housing loan scam• Adarsh Housing Society (Mumbai) Scam• 2010 Commonwealth Games Corruption Controversy

http://www.indiabuzzing.com/wp-content/uploads/cbi-sms-campaign-against-corruption2.jpeg

Anna Hazare’s Protest for Jan Lokpal Bill

• On 5 April 2011, Anna Hazare initiated a movement by beginning fast unto death at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

• Movement gained momentum with support of India’s youth• Protests erupted in Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and many

other places

http://www.popeve.org/wp-content/uploads/Anna_Hazare_Con73442.jpg

Understanding Jan Lokpal Bill

• In India, the Jan Lokpal Bill is a draft anti-corruption bill that would create an independent body

• It would have the power to prosecute bureaucrats• The bill was drafted by former IPS officer, Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan,

Justice N. Santosh Hedge, Advocate Prashant Bhushan and former chief election commisioner J.M. Lyngdoh

• The first Lokpal Bill was passed in 1969 but failed to get through Rajya Sabha for coming 42 years

http://im.in.com/connect/images/profile/apr2011/Lokpal_Bill_300.jpg

Draft Lokpal Bill 2010

Draft Lokpal Bill 2010 was created under the ruling Congress Party

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2009/05/16/india87413162.jpg

Difference between Jan Lokpal Bill and Draft Lokpal Bill 2010

Varying Opinions about Jan Lokpal Bill!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb.cms?photoid=7917354&width=415&resizemode=4

http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories//2011April/annahazare-500_040611083135.jpg

Favorable Public Opinion

“Hazzare represents millions of people in this country whose patience with the current corrupt regime is reaching its limit”,

A. Seshan, via e-mail

“It is time politicians responded to Anna Hazare's demands”, Shankar

“Every Indian should come out and support the cause for which Anna Hazare risks death. If we do not rise now to face the

moment of truth, we never will”, Anurag

http://searchwarp.com/UserImages/31552/Bhopal.jpg

Unfavorable Public Opinion

“The movement behind the Jan Lokpal Bill is crossing the lines of reasonableness. It is premised on an institutional imagination

that is at best naïve”, Pratap Mehta, political analyst

“The seeds of authoritarianism”, Neera Chandhoke, Indian Express Group

“The Jan Lokpal Bill: Good intentions and the road to hell”, Amba Salelkar, Practicing Lawyer

http://images.indiascanner.com/image/2011/04/Jan-Lokpal-Bill.jpg

Features of Proposed Bill

• A central government anti-corruption institution called "Lokpal", supported by state institutions called "Lokayukta" will be set up

• Lokpal will be completely independent of the government • Members will be appointed through a transparent and participatory

process• Discussions and video recordings shall be made public• A list of cases disposed with brief details will be published on the website • Investigations in each case will have to be completed in one year• Any loss caused by a corrupt person to the government will be recovered

at the time of conviction

• Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers if any citizen’s work is not accomplished within a prescribed time period

• Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and if found to be substantive, will result in his dismissal within two months

• The existing anti-corruption agencies (CVC, departmental vigilance and the anti-corruption branch of CBI) will be merged into Lokpal

• The agency will also provide protection to whistleblowers who alert about potential corruption cases

http://www.srknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Lokpal-Bill.jpg

Keeping the features of proposed Jan Lokpal Bill in mind, can we really “ensure” the continuation of anti-corruption machinery?

Can we “ensure” honest officials for keeping the committee clean and genuinely helping common man?

What is India’s future with the Jan Lokpal Bill?

http://www.indiabuzzing.com/wp-content/uploads/alarming-level-of-corruption-in-india1jpeg.jpg

Thank You!