Anti-Corruption Movement hijacked by political parties - Split on Lines of RSS vs Others

Communal forces’ link with Ramdev’s fast undesirable: Bhushan Jr
Courtesy: Indian Express

Noted lawyer and member of the Lokpal Bill Joint Drafting Committee, Prashant Bhushan, expressed strong reservations about Sadhvi Ritambhara sharing the dais with Baba Ramdev in Delhi during his fast. Speaking to reporters here after an interactive session on Lokpal Bill organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, he said the anti-corruption movement should not be hijacked by ‘communal forces’.

“You cannot prevent anyone from supporting the cause but one should be careful about communal forces overtaking the main issues,” Bhushan said.

He also expressed his disagreement over the yoga guru’s demand of death penalty for the corrupt though he said that some of his demands are quite reasonable. He said “there is a need of self regulation” over allegations that millions have been spent in the preparations of the yoga guru’s fast.

Addressing the conference, he also asserted the members of the Drafting Committee are hopeful that the bill would be tabled at the forthcoming monsoon session of the Parliament. He also said the Central government should take more initiatives in drafting the legislation by holding more frequent meetings and consultations to resolve the major differences and hurdles. “If the government fails to pass the bill in this next session, the earlier ultimatum of August 15 by Anna Hazare will stand forth,” he added.