Social activist Anna Hazare's decision to write to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh proposing the right to call back members of Parliament and legislative assembly has drawn sharp reactions.
"Anna has not written to the prime minister as yet on this matter. The letter would be ready in the next couple of days and then released to the media," social activist and senior advocate, Prashant Bhushan told rediff.com on Wednesday.
Anna Hazare, in his interviews to the media, has been stressing that people of India should have a right to recall a member of Parliament or legislative assembly if he or she does not perform according to expectations.
Commenting on Hazare's statement, senior Communist Party of India leader D Raja questioned if Anna knew what he was talking about.
"First of all he should clarify his agenda. Only an anti-corruption movement will not work. He should be talking about electoral reforms and proportional representation. He is expanding his base. He must clarify his present statements," said Raja.
"Does he know that victory by a single vote is also a victory? His suggestion is impractical. The elections are fought between multi-party candidates including independents. Those who are elected do not get all the votes, as those who vote in their favour are less than eighty percent," the CPI leader said.
Raja questioned on what basis Hazare was recommending recall of MP's or MLA. He said Hazare should emphasise on electoral reforms, state funding of elections - so that every one has a level playing field, not allowing persons with criminal records to enter Parliament.
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar, however, refused to comment directly on the move initiated by Anna Hazare. Javadekar said that the party had already constituted a committee that will come out with suggestions on electoral reforms shortly. "This committee will come out with suggestions that would help in reducing money and muscle power," he said.
A senior Congress leader said that they would comment on the matter in due course. "Let him (Anna Hazare) make the suggestions first," he said.
"Since this does not come under the purview of the election commission of India, the Parliament would have to legislate on the matter," Prashant Bhushan said.
