India's PM takes over debate on corruption
Source: Agencies |
August 26, 2011, Friday
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INDIA'S prime minister seized control of a national anti-corruption debate yesterday, calling on parliament to discuss protesters' reform proposals and appealing to a weakening 74-year-old activist to end his nine-day hunger strike.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address to lawmakers was his most direct attempt to end the stalemate between the government and activist Anna Hazare over competing plans to root out corruption.
However, Singh's words fell short of protesters' demands that parliament swiftly pass their sweeping proposal to create a powerful government ombudsman.
Hazare briefly addressed a few thousand supporters at his protest site in the capital prior to Singh's speech, saying he was not prepared to give up. "I believe I will not die until the ombudsman bill is passed," he said.
The government, which has tabled its own watchdog bill, has dismissed elements of Hazare's more stringent and sweeping proposals as unworkable and unconstitutional.
Singh told parliament it should hold a full debate on all versions of the bill - including at least two others proposed by civic groups.
"All ideas should be discussed and debated so we will have the bill that is the best possible bill to help us deal with government corruption," he said, to rare applause in a parliament that has broken down repeatedly in chaotic protest in recent weeks.
Saying Hazare's message had been heard, the usually staid Singh made an emotional appeal to him to call off his hunger strike.
He said: "He has made his point … he has become the embodiment of our people's disgust and concern about tackling corruption. I applaud you, I salute you, and his life is much too precious. Therefore I would urge Sri Anna Hazare to end his fast."
In an unusual show of unity, the opposition endorsed Singh's appeal.
Sushma Swaraj, leader of the opposition in the lower house, said: "This house appeals to Anna Hazare … please end your fast."
Hazare's fast has struck a chord with Indians horrified at endemic corruption and the seemingly never-ending scandals said to have cost the treasury billions of dollars. On Wednesday, police charged four lawmakers for their alleged role in buying and selling votes in parliament.
The protest has left Singh's government flailing for more than a week, as Hazare's aides harnessed Twitter, Facebook and the nation's 24-hour news channels to rally support.
But Hazare has also drawn criticism, some saying his protest is misguided and anti-democratic. Singh's address sent a signal that despite strong differences, lawmakers were united in their belief the legislature should not be dictated to by protesters.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address to lawmakers was his most direct attempt to end the stalemate between the government and activist Anna Hazare over competing plans to root out corruption.
However, Singh's words fell short of protesters' demands that parliament swiftly pass their sweeping proposal to create a powerful government ombudsman.
Hazare briefly addressed a few thousand supporters at his protest site in the capital prior to Singh's speech, saying he was not prepared to give up. "I believe I will not die until the ombudsman bill is passed," he said.
The government, which has tabled its own watchdog bill, has dismissed elements of Hazare's more stringent and sweeping proposals as unworkable and unconstitutional.
Singh told parliament it should hold a full debate on all versions of the bill - including at least two others proposed by civic groups.
"All ideas should be discussed and debated so we will have the bill that is the best possible bill to help us deal with government corruption," he said, to rare applause in a parliament that has broken down repeatedly in chaotic protest in recent weeks.
Saying Hazare's message had been heard, the usually staid Singh made an emotional appeal to him to call off his hunger strike.
He said: "He has made his point … he has become the embodiment of our people's disgust and concern about tackling corruption. I applaud you, I salute you, and his life is much too precious. Therefore I would urge Sri Anna Hazare to end his fast."
In an unusual show of unity, the opposition endorsed Singh's appeal.
Sushma Swaraj, leader of the opposition in the lower house, said: "This house appeals to Anna Hazare … please end your fast."
Hazare's fast has struck a chord with Indians horrified at endemic corruption and the seemingly never-ending scandals said to have cost the treasury billions of dollars. On Wednesday, police charged four lawmakers for their alleged role in buying and selling votes in parliament.
The protest has left Singh's government flailing for more than a week, as Hazare's aides harnessed Twitter, Facebook and the nation's 24-hour news channels to rally support.
But Hazare has also drawn criticism, some saying his protest is misguided and anti-democratic. Singh's address sent a signal that despite strong differences, lawmakers were united in their belief the legislature should not be dictated to by protesters.
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