Lokpal Bill

During these last months, India has witnessed a lot of activity regarding the adoption of the Lokpal bill meant to fight the rampant corruption affecting public life. A campaign by social activists headed by Anna Hazare is pushing for a Jan lokpal bill or citizens' ombudsman bill - which is supposed to have more teeth to fight and deter corruption by calling among other things to get the prime minister and the higher judiciary within the ambit of the law.

To put pressure on the government, Anna Hazare had started an indefinite fast which he eventually stopped after the Lok sabha (parliament) gave its approval on key elements of the Jan Lokpal bill.
However, not everybody aggrees with Anna Hazare who has been hastily branded as the new Gandhi by a section of the media . His critics, who includes among others Aruna Roy, the National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) or Arundhati Roy, argue that the proposed draconian bill will not be effective, is undemocratic, oppressive and populist in spirit and that its exact judicial powers are not clear (in its current form). The bill is also opposed by the All-India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, representing the Dalits and backward castes who say that Anna Team’s demands are extra constitutional and undemocratic and feel that this movement is against the system of reservation. Here's an article from the organisation about the Jan Lokpal

Here are two articles published in The Hindu:

• Is the government serious about dealing with corruption from Team Anna
• I'd rather not be Anna from Arundhati Roy