Lokpak bill activists claim campaign to discredit them

Alleging that there was a ''concerted, smear'' campaign against them, Anna Hazare and other civil society members in the joint committee to draft Lokpal Bill on Friday offered themselves to any kind of inquiry into their activities.

They also claimed that a  CD, which is in circulation purportedly containing the voice of Prashant Bhushan's  father Shanti Bhushan talking with political leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh in an incriminating manner, as "fabricated".

The activists, who made public their assets and liabilities, claimed that those raising allegations against them were "happy" about the smear campaign against the civil society as it was benefiting the corrupt people.

"It seems to be an organised campaign against us," lawyer Prashant Bhushan, one of the members of the joint committee, told reporters here.

Another member Arvind Kejriwal said, "if the government feels that there are some discrepancies in our activities, we are ready for any kind of enquiry."

On the CD, Bhushan said the voice could be of his father who  did talk to Mulayam Singh but had never talked to or met Amar Singh.

"It is a fabricated tape. Various conversations on corruption in judiciary, on H R Bhardwaj, Prashant Bhushan doing PIL cases have been  spliced. It will become evidence when it goes for forensic examination," Prashant Bhushan said.

"We have filed a complaint with Delhi Police. They have registered a case," he said.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said a case under Section 469 of IPC (forgery for purpose of harming reputation).

On the report by former Supreme Court judge P B Sawant, which had reportedly said Hazare had spent money on his birthday celebration taken from a trust, Kejriwal said the Gandhian himself had asked the authorities to take action against himself and three ministers who were named in it.

"Conduct any enquiry against us but please do not take the focus away from corruption. Earlier the focus was on corruption. But it is not now," he said.

On the criticism against the Bhushans by Congress leader Digvijay Singh that they had underpaid stamp duty on a house they had bought in Allahabad,  Bhushan  said he was surprised that Singh  was raising this issue of undervaluation on a transaction that took place decades ago.

The stamp duty was based on the value of the house then and in fact they had themselves paid a higher duty than the one fixed by the registration authorities, he claimed.

On the issue of videographing the meeting, Bhushan and Kejriwal said they will raise the issue with the committee.

"We do not mind even the live telecast of the proceedings but that cannot be possible. If not video recording, at least there should be audio recording so that it is available for people," Bhushan said adding important proceedings were recorded in other countries.

Asked about  Hazare's statement that the Lok Pal will not not cover higher judiciary, Kejriwal said they would argue for including the Chief Justice of India under the ambit of Lokpal.

"Hazare has earlier said that Chief Justice should not be under Lokpal. But in a meeting today, we decided that when Prime Minister is sought to be included in the Lok Pal why not not Chief Justice of India.  We will ask the panel to look into it. There is no question of excluding judiciary," he said.

Kejriwal said only  criminal misconduct by the judges is being sought to be probed under the Lok Pal bill and not not the professional misconduct.

On Divijay Singh's statement that NGOs should also be brought under the purview of the Lok Pal bill, he said already the draft Lok Pal bill has powers to initiate inquries where undue benefits have been extended by government officials.

Both the briber giver and receiver are under its purview which also automatically brings corporates and NGOs under its scrutiny, he added.

Kejriwal dismissed apprehensions that Lok Pal will be a 'supercop' saying all checks and balances are in place.