“Government’s version “Lokpal” and Team Anna’s “Jan Lokpal” have short comings and draconian clauses. They need to be debated” it said.
In a Joint Statement Concerned Civil Societies said that a concerned citizens belonging to SC/ST/OBC and Minority communities, they thought that a Lokpal Bill must propose a Lokpal, consisting representative member from SCs, STs, OBCs and Minority religious communities.
They said that the presence of the representative of SC, ST, OBC and minority communities is important because the caste prejudices of the members would work against the weak and vulnerable in the process of their work as public functionaries.
“Even the members of the Lokpal are subject to such caste and religious prejudices” the statement said.
“Within the Lokpal there should be checks and balances. As we are aware that in this country caste and religion is important agencies that aid and abet corruption and also checkmate it. It is, therefore, important that the Lokpal should have members coming from the SC, ST, OBC and Minority communities to balance it with a principle of social justice”.
The Government Bill proposes that the selection committee will consist of 5 members of which 3 will be the Government nominees and 2 will come from the civil society. In effect the Government selects the Lokpal. “This method of selection must change”.
The concerned civil societies, totally disagree with selection committee recommended by the Government and also Team Anna. ‘They do not represent SC/ST/OBC and minorities and the bill will be bias to address the corruption based on social and justice’.
They said that while accepting the conditions of looking at the integrity aspect of individuals being drawn into the Lokpal, the social justice principles must be followed in Lokpal as well as the Selection Committee.
The concerned civil societies also objected Team Anna’s absolute claim of civil society representing whole nation. “The supporters are upper caste, middle class and elites, who do not represent 85% of SC/ST/OBC and minorities. Such movement is threat to Indian secularism and democracy”.
The signatories include Dr. Udit Raj– National Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations, Prof. Kancha Ilaiah – Director for the study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, Dr. Joseph D’souza, President of All India Christian Council, Dr. John Dayal – Member of National Integration Council, Vidhya Bhushan Rawat – Director of Social Development Foundation, Sunil Sardar – Director of Truth Seeker International and Madhu Chandra – Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline