Sights On A Strong Lokpal

By Arvind Kejriwal 


Our UP yatra just got over. We spread the following message amongst people: “Annaji has received a letter from the prime minister assuring that a strong Lokpal Bill will be passed soon. Annaji believes in the PM’s assurance and has requested you to keep a watch on the winter session.” 

Unfortunately, the PM’s letter had come too late. The people of Hisar had asked for a similar letter of intent from all political parties before the Hisar bypolls. Barring the Congress, all other parties gave it in writing. The prime minister wrote this letter to Anna Hazare only after our Hisar campaign was over. Had this letter come in time, the campaign could have been avoided.

There is a misconception that the government had made this promise earlier, when Anna ended his fast. It is being alleged that we jumped the gun when the government had already made that promise. The truth is that there was no such commitment. If the commitment had been there, why did the Congress hesitate in giving such an assurance before the Hisar elections?

The Parliament “resolution” was only about three issues of the Lokpal Bill. There was no commitment on the rest of the issues. There was also no commitment when the Bill would be brought and passed in Parliament. The Hisar campaign got us this commitment from the government. 

We are not “anti-Congress”. Our only intention is to get the Lokpal Bill passed. If the BJP had been in power at the Centre and if they had not passed a strong anti-corruption law, we would have appealed to the people not to vote for the BJP. 

A question is being raised as to why we are opposing only the UPA when so many other parties are against the Jan Lokpal Bill. This is because parties other than the UPA cannot get the Bill passed. For instance, in UP, if Mayawati wants, can she get a strong anti-corruption law passed at the Centre? The answer is no.

Likewise, if the BJP or Mulayam Singh or Ajit Singh want, can they get a strong anti-corruption law passed at the Centre? Again the answer is no. But if Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi want, they can get this Bill passed immediately. That is the reason for our focus on the Congress. 

A question is being raised: If you oppose the Congress, won’t that benefit opposition candidates who are equally tainted, if not more? We completely agree with that. But if our opposition to the Congress benefits the opposition, isn’t the Congress responsible for that because it is not passing the Bill? Second, almost all major political parties have indulged in corruption. For instance, in UP, all the four major parties – Congress, BJP, SP and BSP – have been accused of indulging in corruption whenever they have been in power. People have tried out each one of them in the past. It has become clear now that changing faces and parties in every election will not work. We have to work towards systematic changes.

So, if you wish to check corruption in the BSP, BJP or SP, you need the Lokpal Bill and it is only the Congress that can give us the Lokpal Bill. If the ruling party does not work, don’t the people vote them out in the next elections? It is called the anti-incumbency factor. This time, the UPA is in power. There have been a series of scandals – both at the Centre and in states. Many parties are responsible for these scams. However, it is the UPA’s duty to pass a strong anti-corruption law to check these scandals. There has been a strong anti-corruption movement to demand such a law. The UPA did not pass that law. Naturally, people would be agitated against it. 


Our appeal to the people no to vote for the Congress if it does not pass this Bill by the winter session has drawn criticism. It is said that we are supporting the BJP. That is wrong. Our appeal will benefit all opposition parties, many of them happen to be regional. But the Congress would be responsible for that if it does not pass the Bill in the winter session.

It is being alleged that Anna’s campaign has suddenly turned political. That is wrong. We were always political, though we are not into party or electoral politics. We are into people’s politics. We are not supporting any candidate or party. We are not standing for elections. One should understand that corruption is a hardcore political issue.

Therefore, a campaign to fight against corruption cannot be apolitical. Our campaign in Hisar drew a huge response. One could argue that huge crowds at our rallies were a hangover of Ramlila Ground. But the public did not accept our appeal so easily. We were questioned and grilled by the crowds. It is only when they were finally satisfied that Hisar overwhelmingly voted in favour of the Jan Lokpal Bill. 

The country has waited for more than 42 years for a strong Lokpal Bill. We sincerely hope the PM will keep his assurance and Anna won’t have to visit UP before the forthcoming assembly elections.