'Some people trying to weaken movement against corruption'

Lucknow, May 2: Alleging that some elements with vested interests were trying to weaken the movement against corruption by defaming members of civil society in Jan Lokpal Bill draft committee, its member Arvind Kejariwal on Sunday, May 1 said people should remain alert from such campaign.

"To defame the movement against corruption, elements having vested interests and pseudo-intellectuals are writing news and columns in a section of media," he told a public rally to create awareness on Lokpal Bill here.

People should not get misled by such news and lodge their protest by sending letters to newspapers and channels carrying such items, he said.

Referring to allegations against Shanti Bhushan, a member of the Lokpal draft committee, he said it was a conspiracy to weaken the movement against corruption.

All investigating agencies including the CBI should be freed from the government control and brought under the ambit of the bill, Kejariwal said.

On UP Chief Minister Mayawati's demand for inclusion of a dalit in the draft committee, social activist Swami Agnivesh, who was also present in the rally, told reporters it would have been better had she offered to take lead in implementing Jan Lokpal Act in the state where corruption has become "institutionalised".

Meanwhile, BSP has criticised Swami Agnivesh on his statement of corruption being "institutionalised" in UP and reiterated Mayawati's demand for inclusion of a dalit in the draft committee. A party spokesman said Agnivesh's statement was completely irresponsible.

PTI