By IANS,
New Delhi : Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal Sunday launched a scathing attack on Communications Minister Kapil Sibal, saying his move for censorsing the Internet had failed to affect the popularity of the anti-corruption movement.
Speaking from the dais where Anna Hazare conducted his day-long token fast at Jantar Mantar here, Kejriwal said: “As for Kapil Sibal, SMS played a big role in our movement, so he changed the telecom policy that more than 200 SMSes cannot be sent from one SIM (in a day).”
“Facebook helped our movement, so he tried to restrict Facebook and others…But look at the number of people who have gathered here at Jantar Mantar despite the restrictions,” he said.
Another team member, Kumar Vishwas, asked the minister to check his credibility. “He says there are cartoons (on internet), what can we do if your picture looks like a cartoon? You must check your credibility,” he said.
Kejriwal also called for a new direct democracy, accusing the government of being driven by “high-command” and not the people.
“Is India really a democracy? Is it by the people, of the people, for the people? Are the people really the master in India,” he asked.
“…It’s by the high command, of the high command, for the high command,” he said, alleging that even prime minister’s words had no value.
Reading out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s letter to Anna Hazare promising inclusion of Group C government employees, citizens charter and higher judiciary under the Lokpal, Kejriwal said the letter as well as parliament’s resolution were thrown in the dustbin.
“The committee agrees for one thing — that Lokpal should be given a constitutional status because (Congress general secretary) Rahul Gandhi wants it to have constitutional status,” Kejriwal said.
“It is sad that MPs don’t ask what kind of bill we want, they ask the high command. Parliament makes laws against people’s wish and according to high command,” he said.
He said there should be a law which compels the representatives to come back to people to know their wishes on any legislation.
“There should be a law that after election, members don’t ask party high-command but the gram sabha (village assembly)… do you want this law and do what the people say,” he said.
Another team member, Medha Patkar, alleged the government was representing the corporate world and not the people.