Hyderabad: With the Lokpal debate all set to be re-ignited in the winter session of the Parliament, a group of students from various degree colleges in Hyderabad came together on Sunday at Vanita Mahavidyalaya to discuss and debate the Lokpal bill, a la Parliament style. Termed as the "youth parliament" session, students deliberated on several key issues including bringing the Prime Minister under the Lokpal ambit, jurisdiction of Lokpal and corporate corruption among others.
The three-hour session saw several arguments coming in from the 'Ruling Party' side against inclusion of PM, citing practicality and routine interference as their reasons. Thumping of desks, a highly charged 'opposition' side, and a lady speaker, brought the session much too close to a day in Parliament.
Organized by one of the Hyderabad's popular civil society groups COVA, students were trained and made to research for a fortnight, before presenting it to the audience. COVA president, Dr Mazher Hussain, also organized 'expert talk' sessions to brief students on the various versions of the Lokpal bill.
"Students have been at the forefront of the agitation. And we all want a strong Lokpal bill. This is the best way to ignite these young minds, make them aware and let them have a knowledgeable opinion," said Dr Hussain.
4 of the 25 student participants will now be visiting Delhi in the first week of December to meet legislators and submit a copy of the Bill passed by the 'Youth Parliament'. Sabreen Baig, 'speaker' of the session and a student of St Ann's Degree College is one of the selected four. "The entire conceptualization and the materialization has been a big adrenaline rush. Understanding what the country is fighting for is important. We are now looking forward to Delhi," she said.
A debate laced with dignity, research and passion - maybe a few lessons here for the actual parliamentarians!
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