The leaders of Swaraj Abhiyan are all set to “re-ignite” the campaign against Arvind Kejriwal, whom they have accused of betrying anti-corruption movement by bringing in a weak lokayukta Bill. They are also hoping to get support from Anna Hazare.
leaders of the party, including Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, addressed the two-day “National Convention on Corruption” where they also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly “patenting ways” to weaken anti-corruption laws and institutions.
They said RTI activists and whistleblowers will join the “apolitical” campaign for which a “Citizens’ Whistle Blower Forum” (CWBF) will be formed.
“We had hoped the agitation (launched by activist Anna Hazare) for lokpal would broaden. After that a political party (AAP) was formed. Arvind Kejriwal became supremo of the party. The party moved out of its first Government saying it was not being allowed to bring in lokayukta.
“And eventually, when it did pass a lokayukta Bill (during its present tenure), they drafted such a weak Bill... they inserted a clause which will ensure it doesn’t become law. He (Kejriwal) betrayed the entire movement,” Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan said.
Hitting out at the AAP Government over the Bill, Bhushan said it lacks transparency and noted its clause that lokayukta will have powers to also investigate corruption matters relating Union Ministers is “unlikely” to be accepted by Centre.
The noted lawyer added it was this “betrayal” that has necessitated efforts to launch the agitation afresh, which he added, will see participation by RTI activists, whistle-blowers and those working for a “flawless” lokpal.
Echoing Bhushan’s views, Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said the anti-corruption agitation appeared to have “extinguished” over the past some years and claimed it will be “re-ignited” through the CWBF, which he added, will be an “apolitical” movement.