Aruna Roy: Anna shouldn't undermine democratic institutions

NEW DELHIi: The Aruna Roy-led National Campaign for People’s Right to Information ( NCPRI) on Saturday described activist Anna Hazare’s resolve to continue his fast till Parliament passed his version of the Lokpal bill as “dangerous’’ and “undemocratic” .

Affirming faith in the parliamentary process, NCPRI members said that while the government draft left much to be desired, significant changes could be made in the pending antigraft legislation. Arguing that Anna Hazare should not deride democratic institutions, NAC member Aruna Roy said the Gandhian was “ill-advised ” adding, “We must assert our rights. But to get rid of these institutions would be a great disaster for all the people in this country. We must make these democratic institutions work for us and they must work for us.’’

Roy said that NCPRI would take their version of the Lokpal bill and the accompanying basket of measures to the Standing Committee and the Hazare group should do the same.

In an apparent reference to Hazare setting a deadline to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill, she said, “I think Annaji is illadvised ... anyone who says my view should be the only view is wrong.”

Former Chief Justice of Delhi HC Justice A P Shah said that the deadline on Parliament was “dictatorial and undemocratic” . He added, “What will happen to this country if every group starts insisting on passing their own laws? It a most unreasonable demand and I have doubts that they understand the implications of their demand.’’

Roy’s colleague Shekhar Singh said that Hazare’s was a “dangerous’ ’ statement. “If we have the support of 1 or 2 lakh people we will take over the function of Parliament today...tomorrow it could be the courts.”
Another NAC member Harsh Mander said that it was the right of all people to be heard and no one could claim to represent all people.

On being asked about the NCPRI version of the Lokpal bill, Hazare aide Prashant Bhushan said, “We have differences with Aruna Roy on two issues . We have recommended that all government servants should come under Lokpal but they suggests that there can be a separate body to look into the grievances against them.’’