New Delhi (dpa) – Indian activist Anna Hazare is set to launch renewed protests over an anti-corruption bill as the government Monday said it was for the parliament finalize the legislation. The lokpal bill, which has been introduced in parliament, envisages setting up an independent ombudsman with the power to prosecute politicians and civil servants. It will be debated by the parliament that reconvenes Tuesday for a three-day session. Hazare, who described the bill was “weak and useless,” would be leading a protest fast in Mumbai to run simultaneously with the parliament session. His team will also hold protests in cities including national capital New Delhi. “It is the job of parliament to legislate. We know the Hazare team viewpoints but it is for the parliament to decide what should be the final shape of the legislation,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Kolkata. Hazare has demanded that the bill be amended since it gives the ombudsman no investigatory powers and would not oversee the federal investigators of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The ombudsman would have to request that the CBI, which is under government control, look into a case. Detractors say the CBI is misused to investigate opposition parties government critics but drags its feet on cases involving government ministers. “I cannot make any premature comment on what would happen, or how the MPs will respond to various provisions of the bill,” Mukherjee added. Hazare has been campaigning for a strong anti-graft bill since April, holding hunger strikes and rallies drawing support across India. Corruption has become an issue since a slew of big-money scandals hit Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government over the past year. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/sT1VP Tags: Activist, Corruption, India Section: Latest News, South Asia
