India to Set Up Independent Agency to Probe Official Graft

World

India passed a bill Wednesday that will enable the establishment of an independent agency to investigate corruption among government officials. Many Indians hope the first-of-its-kind agency will bring much needed change to the graft embattled country.

The bill — known as the Lokpal Bill after the Hindi word for ombudsman — is the culmination of the long struggle of veteran anti-graft activist Anna Hazare, who led a mass movement in 2011 that forced the government to introduce the bill in parliament.

“People are lining up to take credit, but there is an old man who keeps fasting for the bill and appeals to our collective conscience,” opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Sushma Swaraj said, acknowledging Hazare’s role.

Hazare said there was no room for complacency. “People have to be vigilant. Only then will they benefit from this law,” he told reporters after the bill was passed. He called for “committees…

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