Is Lokpal joint committee running off the track ?

It is a pity that the whole issue of Lokpal bill drafting has been sidelined by controversies about the joint committee members from the civil society side .Now it is argued ,is it right to have tainted members in the comittee for a bill purported to be drafted against corruption .No doubt this is a vilification campaign against the civil society members started by politicians and political parties.But since it has been raised,Bhushans,the father and son duo should step down from the committee until their names are cleared off any such controversy .Propriety demands stepping down by the Bhushans.It is true the charges against the Bhushans have been made public just before the crucial meeting of the drafting committee.It surely is a deliberate attempt to derail the functioning of the committee. The very fact that the CD was distributed by some anonymous source to all media offices,shows it was a deliberate attempt.The onus is now on the Bhushans to prove they are not guilty of the charges made against them.The common public is interested in a law that punishes mercilessly corrupt officials and politicians and nothing more. To the general public the legislation should be a deterrent to corruption in all spheres of life.The upsurge and support for Anna Hazare's movement was spontaneous and it showed the dislike and disgust of the common man against graft .The zeal generated by such a movement should not be lost because of two individuals. I agree the Bhushans are eminent lawyers and may be useful in drafting a legislation of this type.But it is also true what is sauce for goose is also sauce for gander.Atleast this is what the civil society members can do from their side , to keep the process moving .There is no point in standing on ego issues and create an hostile atmosphere at the drafting committee meetings. I am sure the civil society group can find equally capable legal luminaries to replace the Bhushans in the committee.

However I have serious apprehensions about the Lokpal bill seeing the light . There is already a writ petition filed in the SC challenging the constitution of the committee to draft the Lokpal bill. This will ensure further delay.The support by the people only made the government to finally relent to constitute a committee to draft the bill.Political parties and politicians would be hell-bent to stall the bill from being passed .After all they have succeeded in doing so for the last 42 years, because the bill will affect the people in power.The civil society group were emboldned by the public support they recieved for Annaji's fast. But in reality they have to face a formidable group opposed to the Lokpal bill. Right now the civil society group is vulnerable because the group opposed to the the Lokpal bill have succeeded in putting the civil society group on the defensive by levelling charges against them.This is the time the civil society members have to be careful and should not cave in .They should agree to replace members against whom there are charges and replace them with men of impeccable integrity and character. Replace them with men against whom the adversaries to the bill can not say the rhetoric "He that is without sin, cast the first stone."

Annaji might also be in a fix now.A popular movement two weeks ago is turning in to a run-of-the-mill affair.Annaji should not let this happen.Solely because, it was a people's movement. He should not allow anyone to steal the limelight .Before it is too late Annaji should understand the diversionary tactics being employed and come out with a civil society group in the committee who are sagacious enough to draft the final bill . It is also important Annaji should not give room for the public to believe there is behind scene maneouvering by any political party to his movement. This is most important.Annaji's movement gained currency among the general public ,only because it was apolitical.

Whatever it is, the Lokpal Bill is the need of the hour for the nation battered by scams galore in the recent past . It may not be out of place to say that I am reminded of a quote by Aesop "We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office".