New Delhi/Ralegan Siddhi: The rift between Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal over the amended Lok Pal bill widened on Sunday with the AAP leader calling it “weak and ineffective” and the Gandhian welcoming it and taunting his one time protege he should fast if there was any shortcomings.
Observing that nobody except Congress will be benefited by the passage of the Bill while Rahul Gandhi will get the credit for it, Kejriwal also said it was insufficient to even send a “mouse” to jail, forget a minister.
Kejriwal said he was saddened by Hazare’s stand that he would break his fast once the Lokpal Bill in Parliament warning that the proposed legislation will not prevent corruption but instead work to “protect the corrupt”. The Bill is expected to come up for consideration in Rajya Sabha tomorrow.
“Forget about any minister, not even a mouse will go to jail if this bill is enacted. I can assure you that there would not be a single conviction with this Lokpal in next 10 years. I pondered over who will gain from this Lokpal Bill. I found that Congress would gain and its Vice President Rahul Gandhi will get some credit for its passage,” Kejriwal told reporters in Delhi.
With Kejriwal in mind, Hazare said if anyone feels there are shortcomings in the bill after it is passed, they should fast for it.
“I have read the provisions of the bill properly. If you (Kejriwal) think the bill has any shortcomings, fast for it,” Hazare, whose fast for passage of Jan Lokpal Bill entered sixth day on Sunday, said while talking to reporters in Ralegan Siddhi village.
The anti-graft crusader rubbished Kejriwals’ contention and said several of his expectations from the legislation have been met and expressed satisfaction over the bill which has been presented in the Rajya Sabha.
“The government’s control over CBI has been removed in this bill. I saw 13 such points and told the government that I welcome this,” Hazare said.
“That is why I thought that the bill is beneficial to the people and country,” he said.
“I welcome the government’s Bill. This Bill is in favour of the public. I am grateful that the government brought this Bill…I feel this is a good Bill. It will do good to the society and the public. That is why I have welcomed it,” he added.
Hoping that Lokpal Bill will be passed in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha during the current session itself, Hazare suggested that the legislation be passed amid din or the session be extended, if required. (PTI)
