The government on Monday sought to narrow the chasm between itself and the activists protesting at Ramlila Maidan by offering Anna Hazare's supporters an 11-point draft outlining what could be done. The details of the proposal, which ministers said might pass muster with the activists, would be announced in Parliament on Tuesday.
The government instead used Bhaiyyuji Maharaj, a spiritual leader, as the go-between. He first held consultations with law minister Salman Khurshid and HRD minister Kapil Sibal. The Congress core committee met on Monday and decided the PM would make a statement in Parliament on Tuesday.
The government decided to step in before the stand-off got worse. Earlier, a student at IIT Kharagpur, where the Prime Minister presided over the convocation, refused to accept a master's degree from him in a gesture of defiance and protest.
| MONDAY’S ACTION |
| * IIT Kharagpur student refuses to accept degree from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh |
| * Singh says liberalisation eliminated some forms of corruption |
| * Maharashtra govt considers ordinance to set up real estate regulator, bringing CM under Lok Ayukta |
| * Govt offers Hazare’s supporters 11-point draft outlining what could be done |
The government did everything it could to assert it was making proactive moves to address corruption. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh referred to the issue more than once in his speeches at Kharagpur and Kolkata and called for a reasoned debate. He said he opposed corruption as much as the next man, but one institution alone could not correct the system.
The problem had to be fought at multiple levels, he said. “It needs to be supported by improvements in the pace and quality of judicial processes. Speedy trials and timely judgements will do a great deal to discourage corruption and dispel the notion that those who break the law can get away scot free,” the Prime Minister said.
Simultaneously, state governments scrambled to see how they could do their bit to defuse public rage. The Maharashtra government was considering ordinances to set up a more transparent public procurement system, a regulator for real estate and to bring the office of the Chief Minister under the ambit of the Lok Ayukta. Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said a public grievance redressal Bill was on the anvil.
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The PM referred to reforms in funding of political parties and reminded people that economic liberalisation and reforms had helped eliminate corruption in some areas. “Industrial licensing, import licensing and rationing of foreign exchange are good examples. These areas were earlier associated with widespread corruption. The abolition of licensing has eliminated corruption in these areas,” Singh said.
Meanwhile, at Ramlila Maidan, speaker after speaker railed against the government. Kiran Bedi asked people not to believe rumours that negotiations were on. She said Hazare’s group would soon demand the right of rejection, which would allow voters to specify on ballot papers they were not satisfied with any of the contesting candidates. “We want the Prime Minister to come here,” she said, asking the thousands gathered to repeat that after her.
On Monday, it was mobs that ruled the streets on motorcycles, cars, and even tractors. They broke traffic signals, violated speed limits and entered one-way lanes. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance too held a meeting on Monday to plan strategy. Its leader L K Advani called for the Prime Minister’s resignation. Interestingly, that was not echoed by his party’s MPs.
Now that the long weekend is over, the protest may see fewer people tomorrow. on Monday, it was well attended.