Pejwar seer urges Anna to withdraw fast, says meeting Aug 30 deadline is impossible

Udupi, August 24: Stating that there are several confusions in Jan Lokpal Bill, Pejawar Mutt pontiff Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji has urged the anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare to temporarily withdraw his fast.

In a letter to Mr Hazare the seer has opined that it is impossible to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill by August 30 as a thorough debate was necessary to clear those ambiguities.

“As Prime Minister comes under the jurisdiction of the Jan Lokpal Bill, there are possibilities of PM falling prey to the Bill very often even if he was not guilty. According to the experts, this may result in political instability in the nation” the seer wrote.

He also mentioned about the demands made by several experts to include Corporate, Religious and Educational institutions under this bill. It is not only politicians and government officials who are involved in corruption, he suggested.

“Is it possible for the proposed Jan Lokpal to look into hundreds of thousands of government officials, cabinet ministers, members of parliament and legislative assemblies and judges? Is it practical? How will we select the members for Jan Lokpal? What measures should be taken if Jan Lokpal members themselves turn out to be corrupt? All these questions should be judiciously analysed before we come to any hasty decision”, the Pejawar seer wrote.

He advised Mr Hazare not to be blown away by emotions before deciding on such an important bill. A discussion should be organised among the representatives of all sections of society to finalise the Bill.

In his letter, the Swamiji however acknowledged that the Lokpal bill passed by the parliament was weaker than the Bill that was proposed by Team Anna. But it was necessary to reconsider the Bill more carefully, he opined.

After the Quit India Movement by Gandhiji, Lok Satta Movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan and struggles during the emergency the present anti-corruption movement under the leadership of Hazare has has breathed new life into the youth of India, the seer said adding: “We are proud of the movement led by Anna.”

The seer expressed hope that Team Anna would consider his suggestions and act accordingly.