New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared governments sincere commitment to a strong Lokpal Bill. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written to social activist Anna Hazare saying that he is committed to bring a strong Lokpal Act and hopes to succeed in the near future. "In a democratic society, a political consensus is necessary on some issues. We want to discuss several proposals on electoral reforms with all political parties and act on proposals on which there is broad agreement," Singh said.
Significantly, the PM's letter comes at a time when Team Anna members have been working for Congress's defeat in the Hisar by-poll. The letter was in response to Hazare's communication to the PM demanding that the government concentrate on land and electoral reforms. Even as Hazare came out against the Congress in the Hisar Lok Sabha bypoll, the Gandhian and the Prime Minister exchanged letters on Lokpal and measures to fight corruption and other issues like electoral and judicial reforms in the last 20 days.
"Our government is actively considering various proposals related to electoral reforms. Among the proposals being considered is the 'right to reject' which you have mentioned. In a democratic society, political consensus is necessary on some issues. We want to discuss several proposals on electoral reforms with all political parties and act on proposals on which there is broad agreement," Singh said in a letter written on October 10.
"As you are aware, we are committed to enacting a strong Lokpal law and we hope that we will succeed in this in the near future. However, our government is working on a broad agenda to fight corruption and bring in administrative reforms," Singh said in a letter to Hazare written on Monday. "In this, several legal, administrative and technical aspects will be included. Establishment of the Lokpal is part of this broad agenda," Singh added. The PM underlined the importance of gram sabhas, saying it was the government's effort to strengthen panchayati raj institutions further.
He was replying to Hazare's letter of September 21 in which he had flagged several issues including Lokpal, electoral reforms and strengthening of grass roots institutions.
Referring to Hazare's demand for including the provision of right to reject candidates through the option of 'none of the above' in the voting system, saying in a democratic society a political consensus was necessary on such issues.
According to the assurance, written orders should be sent to chief ministers of all Congress-ruled states," Hazare had said.
