Jayanthi Natarjan
NEW DELHI: As social activist Anna Hazare continued his indefinite fast for the second day on the Lokpal Bill issue, Congress today stuck to its stand that the agitation was premature as Government was open to all suggestions.
“The fast by Anna Hazare was premature and in a democracy debates should be held before a policy is framed,” party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarjan told reporters here.
Hazare has slammed the Congress for “misleading” the people by dubbing his agitation as unnecessary and premature.
Natarajan said, “While many people won’t agree on the Lokpal Bill and have different shades of opinion on the issue, the NAC and other fora are already discussing the proposed legislation…. the far reaching changes suggested by Hazare need broad discussions before a final draft can be arrived at.”
At the same time, she added that “no time frame can be set” for taking such decisions as they require wider consultations.
The party had yesterday also termed the indefinite hunger strike by Hazare as “premature”, saying the government had already constituted a panel headed by Defense Minister A K Antony to go into the issue.
Meanwhile, party spokesperson Manish Tewari said Hazare should “reconsider his stand (of fast unto death) and accept the government’s offer of a constructive dialogue.”
“The Prime Minister of India has enormous respect for the cause Anna Hazare advances and advocates. However, these are complex issues. What should be the Ombudsman, what should be the character of the Lokpal.
“And ultimately it is for the government to propose a legislation and for Parliament to dispose it and between that two, there is enough room for civil society to give their inputs,” Tewari said.
He said, “We personally hold Hazare in high esteem but given that these are complex government issues and there are enough planes and joints to give inputs, he should reconsider his stand…,” Tewari said.
The Congress spokesperson refused to comment on reports that a section of Congress suspects Hazare was doing this at the behest of RSS.
“We never dignify rumors and speculations with a response. At the highest level of the government, it has been underlined and underscored that none less than the Prime Minister of India has enormous respect for the cause Hazare advances and advocates,” he said. -PTI
