Accept whatever Parliament gives now: Hegde on Lokpal bill

Bangalore: Former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde today suggested that Team Anna should accept the Lokpal bill which “Parliament gives now” and hoped Anna Hazare agrees to it. The former Team Anna member said the Lokpal bill might not be the same as wanted by Hazare, who is on an indefinite fast demanding stronger anti-graft measure.[caption id=“attachment_1285985” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Santosh Hegde. Reuters[/caption] However, “let us accept whatever the Parliament gives now, let us see how it functions, and if we find this is not enough- the institution is not functioning well- then we will make a demand to bring about the change”, he told PTI. “Why miss this opportunity of getting this bill passed and creating an institution? Creating an institution is absolutely more necessary and important than asking for a perfect institution to be brought into,” Hegde said. Expressing his doubts about Hazare agreeing to this, the former Supreme Court judge said, “He has taken a firm stand on that… I wish he does though (agrees).” On Hazare’s fast, he said, “Starting the fast was for good cause because the government was defying something which the people wanted…; now they have placed it in the Rajya Sabha, I hope for the positive outcome.” “If he (Anna) wants to wait till the bill is passed its okay, because last time he was cheated…, but if he wants to continue the fast only on the ground that some of the provisions in the draft bill are not in accordance with the draft made by his team, I have got little apprehensions about that. Why not allow the institution to be created…” “I expect the bill to be passed, what form it will be passed is something that is anybody’s guess. But surrounding circumstances which is compelling the government of the day and be for that matter even the opposition parties are as such- that they must, otherwise they may not be able to face 2014 election,” Hegde said. Commenting on Arvind Kejriwal spearheaded Aam Aadmi Party’s dream debut in Delhi Assembly elections, Hegde said, “It is definitely vote against what’s happening. People are fed up with the system in which our democracy is functioning; people are fed up with the arrogance of power…” “Their (AAP) assurances that- we will be at the same level as you are- like any ordinary citizens, we will not be superior citizens, has really caught the imagination of Delhi voters,” Hegde, who was part of original Team Anna before it disintegrated, said. Calling AAP’s performance a very good sign, he said “It’s a thing which will strengthen the democratic system, otherwise people would have forgotten democracy.” Noting that AAP in some way has to support government formation in Delhi where there is hung mandate, Hegde said, “In democracy party is secondary, people are primary…” “Here is an occasion when some people are saying- you (AAP) form a government, I will give support from outside…, when you are at the helm of affairs take the opportunity, but don’t do it the way your supporters may say.” He said “the constitutional situation is such that- if you don’t support, then you will have to go for another election after six months, for six months you won’t have democratically elected government, it will be an administrative government with limited power.” “People didn’t vote for you to create a division of this nature and have a breakdown of democratic system…” Emphasising that Delhi needs a government today, he said, “It is the duty of every elected person to form a stable government…; why don’t you get in and show you can do this…” PTI