Sri Sri warns against attempts to make Lokpal ‘parallel govt’

Jun 3,2011 :New Delhi Even as he lent support to the anti-corruption campaigns launched by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishanker has cautioned against attempts to form a “parallel government” through the proposed institution of the Lokpal.

While backing the demand for bringing Prime Minister and higher judiciary in the purview of the proposed office of the Lokpal, Ravishanker has favoured a “different yardstick” to be applied in their cases to “maintain the dignity of their office and position”.

“No system can be 100 per cent foolproof. There needs to be a provision in the Lokpal Bill that treats the people at the highest level separately if they are suspected of corruption while maintaining the dignity of their high offices. No parallel government should be formed and nobody should be above the law,” Ravishanker, who is in Europe, told The Indian Express through his spokesperson in Bangalore.

Incidentally, the Anna Hazare camp, which has been adamant in its demand to include the Prime Minister and higher judiciary under the purview of the proposed office of the Lokpal, flew down to Bangalore last week to solicit Ravishanker’s support.

Ravishanker had backed their campaign then. “We need to change the mindsets. Corruption begins where belongingness ends. What belongs to you will come your way, so make an honest living. This revolution to get rid of corruption should be brought to the country,” he had said.

A grateful Arvind Kejriwal, a leading member of the Anna Hazare camp, had thanked Ravishanker for his support and said, “We didn’t know this fight would become so big”.

Interestingly, Ravishanker has also offered his support to Baba Ramdev who has publicly opposed the inclusion of Prime Minister and higher judiciary under the office of the Lokpal. Ravishanker’s spokesperson said while he supported the issues raised by Baba Ramdev, he would not fast along with him “as this will have international ramifications”. “Embassies all over the world will be bombarded with agitation by the people, so Sri Sri has decided to keep a low profile (with respect to Ramdev’s campaign),” he said.