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CPM leader did not see any harm in Anna’s decision to fast

BHUBANESWAR: On Friday Senior CPM leader Brinda Karat urge she did not see any wrong in social activist Anna Hazare’s proposed fast against the Lokpal Bill from August 16.

In a meeting of women self-help groups (WSHGs), while addressing she said, “Every citizen has the right to protest. People’s struggle will strengthen democracy.

Karat supported inclusion of the Prime Minister and the conduct of MPs in Parliament under the ambit of the proposed Lokpal Bill. Pointing out that the Standing Committee of Parliament had in 2001 recommended inclusion of the Prime Minister under the purview of the Lokpal Bill, she wondered why the Centre was now arguing in a different voice.

Although the CPM leader did not agree to certain issues raised by Team Anna as well as some by the UPA government, but she did not see any harm in Hazare’s decision to go on fast opposing the proposed Lokpal Bill, which got the Union Cabinet’s green signal on Thursday.

Stating that there was no point in keeping the Prime Minister out of the ambit of the Lokpal Bill, Karat said it was imperative to include the conduct of MPs in Parliament in the proposed Lokpal legislation or prepare a mechanism so that the people’s representatives behaved properly inside the House.

Speaking about the need for providing bank linkage to WSHGs, Karat, who heads the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), said she was opposed to foreign investment in the microfinance sector. She came down heavily on micro finance institutions (MFIs) for charging exorbitant rates of interests from WSHGs and said while MFIs borrow from banks at 12 to 13 per cent interest they lend to WSHGs at interest rates upwards of 25 per cent.

Stressing on the need to ensure banks extend loans directly to WSHGs, which number around 35 lakh in the country, Karat demanded that the interest rate be kept at four per cent.

“If a better law can be made due to public protest, what is the harm in it? People should oppose the bill if they find it not sufficient to curb corruption at high places,” she said. “A weak bill cannot give justice to the people,” she added.

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