This is precisely what veteran parliamentarian of about five decades, Pranab Kumar Mukerjee appears to have come to this conclusion. Pranabda was furious to say the least. United Progressive trouble-shooter took Anna Hazare head on. He charged him with attempts to “dictate” terms to the Centre and “wreaking” parliamentary democracy by threatening to go on indefinite fast to blackmail the government. He gave an assurance that the draft Lokpal Bill would be introduced in monsoon session of Parliament, but refused to commit itself to its passage as this is prerogative of Parliament.
Mr Mukerjee goes on to say “it has been hreatened that he (Mr Hazare) will start an indefinate fast from August 16 if te Bill is not passed by August 15.
What does that mean, Mr Mukherjee asks. He gives the answer, if someone dictates that time frame for Bills passage from outside, will it strengthen or weaken the Parliamentary democratic system”. Educating Anna Hazare on how Parliamentary Democracy functions, The Civil Society agitation against the government amounted to ” sinister move of destroying the fine balance between the three organs government enshrined in the Constitution” he said “If someone dictates terms from outside to the government, does it not weaken or subvert democracy. It is a big question.
“The Constitution” Mr Mukherjee says in reference to team Anna’s insistence on pushing through its version of the Lokpal Bill ” has given the power to legislate only to Parliament and the State Assemblies. Launching a scathing attack on the RSS, he said current agitation against corruption was being whipped up by the Sangh which has become jittery after the recent Assembly elections. “why didnt corruption become an issue in West Bengal, Assam and Kerala” he asked.
He charged RSS with providing logistics support to Civil Society agitation.” it started when the Congress attacked the RSS at the Burari Session for their links with extremists. They have become jittery and are providing logistic support to all agitations” he said.