August 23, 2011
New Delhi
Over the last few days, I have watched with increasing concern the state of your health. Despite the differences between the Government and your team, I do not think that anybody is or should be in any doubt about the deep and abiding concern which I and our Government share about your health, arising from your continuing fast. I have no hesitation in saying that we need your views and actions in the service of the nation, from a robust physical condition and not in the context of frail or failing health.
I have maintained that your and our object is identical viz. to reduce significantly, if not eliminate, the scourge of corruption from this country. At worst, our paths and methodologies may differ, though I do believe that even those differences have been exaggerated. The Government is committed to passing a constitutionally valid and the best possible Lok Pal legislation with inputs from Civil Society with the broadest possible consensus. We are ready to talk to anybody. However, we will have to keep in mind Parliamentary supremacy and constitutional obligations in matters of legislation. As a Government we respect and are responsible to the Will of the Indian People as represented by Parliament.
As you are aware, the Lok Pal bill is now before a Standing Committee of Parliament. I have made it clear earlier and would like to restate that all options are open before the Standing Committee. Undoubtedly, they would be entitled to consider, in detail and clause by clause, subject to their discretion, not only the Bill introduced by us but the Jan Lokpal Bill and other versions like those prepared by Ms. Aruna Roy. Equally, I do maintain that they are fully entitled to make any changes to the Bill introduced by the Govt. and referred to them. In that view of the matter, the formal non introduction of the Jan Lokpal Bill version by the government is irrelevant and would largely boil down to a semantic debate.
Nevertheless, in view of the concern repeatedly expressed by your team that the Jan Lokpal Bill version should be before Parliament, but more particularly and more importantly, in view of my deep and abiding concern for your health, our government is prepared to request the Speaker, Lok Sabha to formally refer the Jan Lokpal Bill also to the Standing Committee for their holistic consideration alongwith everything else. Furthermore, if you have any anxieties about time and speed, the Government can formally request the Standing Committee to try, subject to its discretion and the necessity to reflect deeply and spend adequate time on an important Bill, and fast track their deliberations to the extent reasonably feasible.
I would like to say that this letter and each suggestion herein is actuated solely by the twin considerations of deep and genuine concern about your health and the emergence of a strong and effective Lok Pal Act in accordance with established constitutional precept and practice.
I do hope that you will consider my suggestions and end your fast to regain full health and vitality.
AUTHORS: MANMOHAN SINGH
PEOPLE: ANNA HAZARE
TAGS: LOKAYUKTA & LOKPAL | PARLIAMENT | CORRUPTION
SECTION: NATIONAL
SUBSECTION: OPINION
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AUG 25, 2011 10:46 AM 17 | Buck never stops with him Ever since the summer of 2004 when he came to occupy the Prime Minister's office, Mr Singh has been most disdainful of the Opposition, especially the BJP, and scornful towards those who can make a meaningful contribution towards policy formulation and legislation although they are not part of the ruling alliance. He tried to keep Parliament, the Opposition and the nation in the dark while negotiating the India-US nuclear deal with the Americans; he two-timed the Left which was fooled into believing that it enjoyed his confidence; he repeatedly misled both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha with statements that were far from the truth. And then when it came to crisis point and threatened the very existence of his Government, he slyly pointed a finger at the Opposition. |
AUG 25, 2011 10:16 AM 16 | Your and our diagnosis identical - There is a foreign hand behind the mess |
AUG 25, 2011 10:12 AM 15 | #14 - Charan Dewry The implication is 1) Knowing how corruption works, MMS may have been corrupt and professionally overconfident but politically navie, or 2) MMS is honest, had been quite aware of all the stink around, but had under duress with a gun at his head for whatever reason. |
AUG 25, 2011 08:45 AM 14 | Listed below are the important FINANCIAL APPOINTMENTS held by Mr Manmohan Singh for the last 40 YEARS from 1971:- # Economic Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Trade, India (1971–1972) So if Mr Manmohan Singh is "half the economist" that he claims to be, he is the best man to fight corruption knowing how the system worked and changed in the last 40 years from the time of Mrs Indira Gandhi to the time of Mrs Sonia Gandhi having been part of the Govt for all those 40 years. Why is he not doing it??? HIS MASTERS VOICE????? |
AUG 24, 2011 03:43 PM 13 | Corrupt MMS has given an example for the need "PM should come under lokpal", thats the only achievement from this remote controlled puppet..as such he is impotent and listens only to all morons of congress. and do all that a prime minister is not expected to, this letter stunt is also a piece of act enacted by corrupt mms directed by congress morons and their god mafia family. |
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