Who exactly has the right to pass a law? That is the question the government vs civil society debate has raised (Thus Spake Hammurabi, Jun 20). How about the people of the country voting in a referendum? It is not necessary even in the most democratic of countries for decision-making to be the preserve of elected politicians. In Switzerland, notably, the process known as “direct democracy” allows the people to vote on any proposed legislation. Referendums are less frequent in other European countries, but may be used when some important national issue has to be resolved. Many countries, for example, voted in referendums on whether or not to join the European Union. In those cases, the elected politicians surrender their power to the will of the people. The fundamental issues surrounding the Lokpal Bill seem eminently suitable for a referendum, especially since no common ground seems to be emerging between the two sides of the drafting committee. Since the politicians are challenging the democratic credentials of the non-elected panelists, Hazare & Co should propose this and see how democratic the politicians themselves really are.
Ali, Panchkula
All the talk from the government side of being elected and hence being the sole representative of the people is silly. Does it entitle them to plunder the national wealth with impunity and be atrociously arrogant and totally insensitive towards the people’s woes? What kind of democrats are they who see no role for the people after they have cast the vote? It is time the Congress realised that a government so comprehensively cut off from the people is already half-lowered into the grave.
V.B. Lal, New Delhi
There is now a sense of weariness in the whole exercise. There is no doubt that India needs a Lokpal bill. However, it needs representatives/experts from all parts of the country helping legislators of all parties, and not just the upa. That said, I have to admit that I have been horrified by the language used by Anna Hazare and his team. Politicians use bad language all the time, sniping at each other. We have learnt to ignore that. But the language used by Hazare, Kejriwal and Bhushan Jr left us sickened. Thousands may have come out in their support, but a majority who want this bill, like me, are horrified. This is neither civil nor they only people who can help draft such a bill. This was supposed to be a serious exercise. Team Anna has made a mockery of it. They seem drunk on power already.
Aruna Chatterjee, Calcutta
Looks like only taxpayer-funded, Sonia-friendly NGO activists qualify as the kind of civil society entitled to help in making fundamental laws.
Bharat, Delhi
The rise of electronic media has given impetus to a new class of citizen-activists while the internet has helped empower them. The silent majority now has a voice owing to the digital media and better message penetration. Hence this roar for action!
Sunil S. Chiplunkar, Bangalore
