Anna rejects separate law for citizen’s charter

A day after the government approved the Grievances Redressal Bill, Anna Hazare on Wednesday said the Prime Minister had gone back on his assurance that citizen’s charter would be made part of Lokpal Bill.

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: A day after the government approved the Grievances Redressal Bill, Anna Hazare on Wednesday said the Prime Minister had gone back on his assurance that citizen’s charter would be made part of Lokpal Bill.

The Union Cabinet had last night passed a slew of anti-graft bills to tackle corruption at high places, including the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, the Grievances Redressal Bill and the Whistleblowers` Protection Bill.

Hazare however said it was wrong to have a separate legislation for citizen’s charter in the form of Grievances Redressal Bill.

He also asked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to come forward and make her party’s stand on Lokpal clear, like she did in the case of FDI in retail.

Meanwhile, Team Anna`s core committee is meeting for two days beginning today to chalk out future plans, including the proposed Ramlila Maidan agitation, if a strong Lokpal Bill is not passed in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

Hazare will chair the meeting which is expected to take a final call on his decision to go on an indefinite fast from December 27 if a Lokpal law which addresses his concerns is not passed in Parliament.

Team Anna sources said the core committee will also discuss how to go ahead with their campaign in the five poll-bound states if the situation warrants. "There will be preliminary discussions on all these issues," a Team Anna member said.

Sources said the core committee will decide on the mode of Ramlila agitation like whether Hazare should sit on a fast or not and how to mobilise support for the protest, which will be held in chilly winter days.

There are also concerns about Hazare`s health and all these factors will be considered while deciding on the protest mode, sources said.

Hazare has stepped up attack on the government on the issue bringing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the direct line of fire, saying the former "does not take any decision" and the latter was "watering down" proposals.

Congress has been insisting that Hazare should wait till Parliament passes the bill before going on a protest.

(With PTI inputs)

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