LOK PAL BILL: “Opposition must stand up and fight”!

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Gargi Parsai, The Hindu / NEW DELHI, August 1, 2011.

Civil society activist Anna Hazare addresses the media in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: Ramesh Sharma.

Just who is covered under this Bill, asks Arvind Kejriwal

With 85 per cent people in a single parliamentary constituency supporting the Jan Lokpal Bill as opposed to the government's Lokpal Bill, social activist Anna Hazare on Monday termed as “unfortunate” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's justification for keeping his office out of its purview.

Questioning the government's intention, he called upon the Opposition parties to fight for a strong Lokpal Bill. “In a democracy both the government and the Opposition are important. But when the ruling alliance becomes weak, the Opposition parties must stand up and fight.”

Addressing a press conference here, he said he and the people had believed that the country had a Prime Minister who was honest and non-corrupt, “but after his recent statement, we wonder whether an honest person is being dishonest.” Dr. Singh had recently said that it was “not advisable” to bring the office of the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill.

Even as the government is all set to introduce the Cabinet-approved Lokpal Bill in Parliament this week, he said, “Our fight is not against Parliament. It is against the government…I had written a letter to the Prime Minister on July 18 but he has not replied.”

Standing firm on his resolve to go on an indefinite fast from August 16 to demand a Bill that was “structurally strong,” he said he was not insisting on undertaking a fast at Jantar Mantar because the issue, for him, was more important than the venue.

01) By now analysts of all Political Parties must have done their study of each version of the bill and also must have made up their mind on their stand on each of the points;

02) As for referendum on such a delicate subject, people not knowing what they are voting for and with many more such criticisms has lost its sheen;

03)  As and when the bill is introduced in Parliament, the MPs would decide on their stand based on their individual party's stand.

Full Story at,

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2313532.ece

TEAM-ANNA: People in Sibal’s constituency want Jan Lokpal Bill: Kejriwal!

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August 1, 2011 / IANS, New Delhi / DC.

As many as 85 per cent people in Chandni Chowk, communications minister Kapil Sibal’s constituency in Delhi, are in favour of the civil society’s version of the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, social activist Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday.

Kejriwal shared the interim results of an opinion poll held in Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. A questionnaire along with a chart detailing the government and the civil society’s versions of the Lokpal Bill was distributed from door-to-door, he said at a press conference. “We have scanned 72,000 applications and the results are overwhelming; 85 per cent people in Kapil Sibal’s constituency said that they were in favour of the Jan Lokpal Bill,” Kejriwal said.

The draft Lokpal Bill was approved by the Cabinet July 28 amid vehement protests by the civil society which said that key clauses which have they have been demanding for, have been left out. The questionnaire had eight questions in all.

I am not sure that this kind of exercise would yield any positive results in terms of building consensus among the political parties and the MPs who would ultimately decide the fate of Lok Pal Bill in Parliament! 

Full Story at,

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/people-sibal%E2%80%99s-constituency-want-jan-lokpal-bill-kejriwal-539

MOROCCO REFORMS: Morocco to hold referendum on democratic constitution

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PAUL SCHEMM / The Associated Press / Published Friday, Jun. 17, 2011 4:55PM EDT / Last updated Saturday, Jun. 18, 2011 8:20AM EDT

Moroccan King Mohammed VI announced a series of constitutional reforms in a speech Friday night that he said will turn the North African country into a constitutional monarchy, though pro-democracy activists remain skeptical.

Under the new constitution, the king will remain the supreme commander of the army and a new article formalized him as the highest religious authority in the country. The speech marked the culmination of a three-month review of the constitution at the order of the king after protests calling for reform swept the North African monarchy in February.

Immediately after the speech ended, cars flying Moroccan flags drove through the streets of the capital honking their horns, and young people marched along the wide boulevards banging drums and cheering.

Morocco has long had a parliamentary system with dozens of parties, but they remain weak and many are beholden to the king and his advisers.

While the king himself remains popular, there is deep dissatisfaction over the government and the advisers around the monarchy whom are believed to be corrupt and rapacious.

Full Story at,

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/morocco-to-hold-referendum-on-democratic-constitution/article2065792/