Lok Sabha is all set to consider passage of Lokpal Bill tomorrow as Anna Hazare mounts a fresh campaign for a "strong and effective" law with a three-day fast in Mumbai, amid signs that the civil society will escalate its protest in the days to come.
However, government remained unfazed saying Hazare's fast at a time when Parliament takes up the Bill will be construed as an "obstructionist" tactics. Congress has issued a three- line whip to its members to be present in the House tomorrow.
The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011, which also seeks to establish ombudsmen in the states besides the Centre, is listed for discussion for eight hours along with the Constitutional amendment bill for giving Constitutional status to Lokpal and Lokayuktas. The Whistleblowers Bill will also be taken up.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal asserted that the Lokpal bill that had been introduced is a product of wide- ranging consultations with civil society and political parties and called it a "fine piece of legislation" to provide for a strong Lokpal.
He also said that the Constitutional Bill, which requires a special majority for passage, would be put to voting only if it has required support.
74-year-old Hazare, who is suffering from viral infection, left Ralegan Siddhi for Mumbai where he will lead a three-day fast which will be joined by supporters across the country, including in the national capital.
He said the repeated volte-face by the government over the Lokpal bill had forced him to fast again.
"They formed a joint committee and then in the joint committee they did a U-turn. They formed a standing committee but the result was again a U-turn," he said in Ralegan Siddhi.
Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said in New Delhi that they could call off their 'jail bharo' agitation if government agrees to the four "non-negotiable" points raised by them in an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and MPs.
"In the open letter to the Prime Minister and MPs, Team Anna has asked for four changes, which are non-negotiable..for other changes we can continue our fight later," he said.
The demands were Lokpal and Lokayuktas should have power to suo motu initiate their own investigations, the obmudsman should be able to carry out independent probe, selection of Lokpal should be through consensus of selection panel and bringing lower bureaucracy under direct control of Lokpal.
"Anna will arrive in Delhi on December 30 for dharna outside a MP's house...it could be Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi's residence...It will depend on what transpires in Parliament. If there are indications that Parliament or the government is ready for amendments, then there will be no need for it (dharna)," Bhushan said.
Hazare said, "for 25 years we have been fighting corruption. Congress people feel that this movement is against them. Tell us, how many times in 25 years have we led movements against you?"
"After being asked not once but several times they (government) still don't create an anti-corruption law. Out of compulsion this movement has to be launched," he added.
Hazare said that the government had only brought one law against corruption since in years of Independence. He claimed that this for this single law he and others fight for ten years. Hazare claimed that his 'andolan' was against the tendency towards corruption.
"What is happening to the poor, they (politicians) don't know because they are in Air conditioned rooms 24 hours a day," Hazare said.
"On the 27, 28, 29 there will be a protest fast on the MMRDA ground in Mumbai. On the 30th we will have a 'dharna' outside Sonia Gandhi's residence. That dharna would go on for three days," he said.
Apprehending that the government may use force against him and his supporters, he said, "We know the government is very powerful. What they did to Ramdev everyone saw. In the middle of the night sleeping women were hit with lathis. We know that such a thing could be done to us as well but for us, we are not afraid of death," Hazare said.
Hazare also requested his supporters especially the youth to observe non-violence.
"Some people will try to create obstacles but my request is that there should be no violence. There is a great strength in non-violence," Hazare said.
"Youth are our national strength. I was a youth of 26 years when I decided that I have to do something and it became possible now.
The youth should not forget Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who sacrificed so much for the country,"he added.
Replying to reporters' queries, Hazare said he was unwell for a couple of days due to too much activity but had recovered before the 'anshan'.
Meanwhile, the anti-corruption crusader today left his village for Mumbai for his fast in support of a strong Lokpal.
Hundreds of villagers gathered to see him off as he left by road for Alandi where he would pay tributes at Sant Dnyaneshwar Samadhi before reaching Mumbai tonight.
The fast, to be followed by a fill-the-jail campaign, is being held at the MMRDA ground at suburban Bandra-Kurla Complex where key Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi are scheduled to fast along with him while some others will undertake the fast in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Hazare clarified that he was not against quota for minorities in the institution of the anti-graft ombudsman.
In the backdrop of demands by RJD, SP, BSP and AIMIM members in Parliament for quota for minorities in the Lokpal bench, Hazare said he was not against reservation.
"The leaders asking for reservations in Jan Lokpal bill have not yet demanded for a quota in constitutional bodies like the Election Commission, Central Vigilance Commission and some other bodies. We are against use of any caste card for selfish motives but not against any reservation in the bill," Hazare said.