P. Sainath on the Jan Lokpal Bill

P. Sainath, the rural affairs editor of The Hindu, gave the Inaugural Maharaj Kaul Memorial Lecture at UC, Berkeley, on April 11, 2011. During the Q&A period, a member of the audience asked him to comment on the Jan Lokpal Bill, proposed by the group "Indians against Corruption." Here's his response

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News & Politics

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• P. Sainath
• Jan Lokpal Bill

[viktormayer]

@iraclion Well, this issue is separate. Just because someone is a PIO doesn't make him any less worthy. After all, our own MPs have increasingly shown tendency to be vastly ignorant about ground reality.

[viktormayer]

Well, there is a very simple conciliatory explanation to views of Mr Sainath's and those of team Annna. Media, apparently bought by a political party, makes it look like anyone who focuses on what comes after bill is passed, is against it. The bill will not suffice if no-one reports corrupted officials. The same will happen if Lokpal is biased (not necessarily corrupt). This is something Anna agrees. That's why he has been saying that the bill is just a beginning.

[viktormayer]

@1966singh This man has been providing solutions all along. And he, by no means is disagreeing with Anna Hazare. Anna says, "Jan Lokpal bill will be just the start of the battle against corruption". Sainath says "Just bringing up the bill will not get rid of corruption", to read between the lines, "to get rid of corruption, we need a lot of painstaking work of making sure the law is adhered to". In what sense do they disagree? Think it through before forming any opinion of someone.

[MegaIdntcare]

@1966singh who told you they did in uk ,usa?

[1966singh]

if he had in english rule he never supported india freedom becasue we have not any certified leader, ambiquaty is essense of any weak mind,beor not be is big question but public make it happen, they did in uk,usa, chine,russian,,now it is turn in india

[1966singh]

p sainath is socalled intellectual,problems need solution, if we democratise it participation of whole public and media making them accountable to certain extent at least put question mark onsome amassing property and blatant violation of law,,he is bloody socalled man who always grudges,and never give solution.he need to study singapore lokpal,if law are stronger majority of thing will be under control,,transferency,media prinking, election reforms will make some extent success,,he is liar,

[sutikshnadubey]

If any one of you has more of HIS thoughts on how a LokPal should be, please share. I am seeking for more of his thought on this issue.

What exactly wrong he finds in JanLokPal draft?

If he is satisfied with Govt. draft of LokPal? IAC movement is also seeking for memorandum and public opinion in it's draft. Idea of Strong lokpal even if it come from some Team-Anna with some "Arbitrariness ", lets focus/debate each clause!!

[tweshm1]

Respect

[roraon]

Well I salute you mr. Sainath. Guys you don't have to call him names. These are his views. Are the Anna supporters practicing bushism now " Either you are with us or...........

[anex16]

@siddhu75 There was an amendment that removed them.. :) ..the bill is not perfect it needs to grow..