Govt’s Lokpal Bill Vs Jan Lokpal Bill: Comparative Chart

Rather than gunning for the corrupt and corruption, government’s Lokpal seems to be gunning for those who complain against corruption.

How will Government’s Lokpal work?

Suppose some citizen files a complaint to Lokpal against some corrupt government servant.

Before the investigations actually start, the government servant can file a cross complaint against the citizen straight to the special court, without any preliminary enquiry by any agency, that the complaint is false or frivolous. The government will provide free advocate to the government servant to file this case. The citizen will have to defend himself on his own!

Then there is stiffer punishment for the complainant than the corrupt government servant. If the Special Court concludes that the complaint is frivolous or false, the citizen faces a minimum of two years of punishment. But if the corruption charges against government servant are proved, there is a minimum of six months of punishment for the corrupt government servant!

Mera Bharat Mahaan

“Sau mein se assi be-imaan phir bhi mera bharat mahaan” – as I recollect this famous dialog of Nana Patekar from the movie “Yeshwant” which came years ago, it highlights the in-depth levels of unidentified corruption that has crept into our lives.

Today, “India against Corruption” has become almost like a fashion trend and fasting seems to be the flavor of the season. And almost every Indian seems to be considering oneself as a crusader against corruption. Some do so by expressing their solidarity with the fasting masqueraders aka Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev, some do so by visiting the Dharnas and shouting slogans and a vast majority of it does by posting links on Facebook/Twitter and attending events virtually.

Astounding as it may sound, but before going ballistic over what Anna or Baba are doing, let’s have a look at the other perspectives of such tactics.

Who knew Anna Hazare before he sat down for fasting? And today, he is being called a Mahatma! Does he really deserve the title, given the fact that he stepped down from the fast merely on being offered a position in the drafting committee of the Jan Lokpal Bill.