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New
Delhi:
On the eighth day of Anna Hazare's fast, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Tuesday reached out to the social activist, urging him to
end the stir with a promise that his views on the Lokpal bill
would be considered. Following is the full text of the letter:
"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."
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