India Lower House Passes Graft Bill

 　　India's powerful lower house of parliament has passed a landmark¹ anti-corruption² bill that seeks to create an independent ombudsman with powers to investigate corruption charges against bureaucrats³ and politicians.

　　The bill was passed Tuesday following hours of heated debate in parliament and a staunch defense⁴ from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

　　Anti-corruption activist⁵ Anna Hazare launched a three-day hunger strike in Mumbai to coincide with the parliamentary debate.  He called on the government to redraft what he called the "toothless" legislation, saying the proposed ombudsman will be controlled by the government, making it ineffective in tackling rampant⁶ corruption.

　　The 74-year-old activist also threatened a wider civil disobedience campaign starting Friday in which activists⁷ will voluntarily go to jail if their demands are not met.

　　Opposition⁸ leader Sushma Swaraj of the Bharatiya Janata Party denounced the Lokpal Bill as flawed.  But the government says the proposed law is a fine piece of legislation and will be instrumental in fighting corruption.

　　The Congress Party-led government failed to get the two-thirds' majority it needed in the lower house to make the bill a constitutional amendment⁹.  The legislation now must gain approval in the upper house and be signed by the president before it goes into effect.

　　The government hopes to pass the landmark legislation by Thursday.  But its fate is uncertain, with opposition parties expected to seek many changes.

　　Public frustration¹⁰ over a series of multi-billion-dollar corruption scandals involving top politicians has been growing.

　　Hazare, who claims inspiration from Mohandas Gandhi, held a similar 12-day fast in August to protest an earlier draft of the legislation.  That strike stoked public anger against what is seen as widespread corruption in Indian society, and brought millions of Indians onto the streets nationwide.

　　Rishi, an organizer of the latest fast, says his group is preparing for tens of thousands of protesters to show solidarity¹¹ with Hazare in Mumbai. "The preparations started two days ago.  The carpeting area in the front can accommodate 15,000 people who will come here to support it," he said.

　　Hazare's critics say his methods go outside the bounds of India's democratic system, adding that he is forcing his political views on parliament.

　　"It is the job of the parliament to make the legislation. We had several rounds of discussions with Shri Anna Hazare and his team," said Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. "We know their viewpoints, but it is for the parliament to decide what would be the final shape of the legislation."

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 bureaucrats   

n.官僚( bureaucrat的名词复数 )；官僚主义；官僚主义者；官僚语言

参考例句：

• That is the fate of the bureaucrats, not the inspiration of statesmen. 那是官僚主义者的命运，而不是政治家的灵感。 来自辞典例句
• Big business and dozens of anonymous bureaucrats have as much power as Japan's top elected leaders. 大企业和许多不知名的官僚同日本选举出来的最高层领导者们的权力一样大。 来自辞典例句

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

6 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

7 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

9 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

10 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

11 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。