By IANS,
New Delhi : Gandhian Anna Hazare Friday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to rethink and name a non-political person to head a panel to draft a stringent anti-corruption legislation.
On day four of his indefinite fast here, Hazare pointed out that the government had agreed to set up a joint drafting committee, half of whose members would be from the civil society.
“The government proposed (Finance Minister) Pranab Mukherjee to head this committee. I request you to reconsider this as people are demanding a non-political person as the chairperson,” he said.
“Despite an outcry for me to be the chairperson, I am not interested in holding any position. I propose the names of Justice J.S. Verma or Justice Santosh Hegde to be made the chairperson.
“All the above should be issued in the form of a notification or a formal government order which specifies the constitution of the committee, names of its members and chairperson, time lines and terms,” he added.
The government has since declared that it would not issue such a notification but said it would again talk to Anna Hazare’s representatives — Swami Agnivesh and Arvind Kejriwal.
In a separate letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who had Thursday urged him to end his fast, Anna Hazare said: “I am really grateful to you for your concern for my health.
“I am also relieved to note that you fully support the cause and think there is an urgent necessity of combating graft and corruption in public life and that the law in these matters must be effective and deliver the desired results.
“I wish to bring to your notice that the sub-committee of your National Advisory Council (NAC) has agreed with the broad content of Jan Lokpal Bill, barring two issues, after extensive discussions April 4 with various knowledgeable sections of society.
“May I request you to kindly get the draft discussed at full meeting of NAC at the earliest and recommend the outcome to the government,” he said.