After getting Anna Hazare to break his fast by promising a comprehensive Lok Pal bill to curb corruption the Congress led government is trying to reduce the powers of the Lok Pal so much that it will be just a useless talking shop. First various politicians tried to malign the activists by spreading lies and innuendos about their character. Then a CD suddenly appeared containing conversations between politicians and activists apparently discussing money but this was proved to be a fake. Now ministers have demanded that only civil servants of the rank of joint secretary and above will be accountable to the Lok Pal and not the Prime Minister, MPs inside parliament even if accused of bribing others for votes, the judiciary, the CVC, the CBI, defence personnel and departmental investigative agencies. In short everyone except come 200 high ranking civil servants. Can any human being be so utterly shameless? Which citizen ever gets to meet a joint secretary who sits in a remote office and goes around with armed police? Our dealings are with clerks who collect bribes and this goes up the chain. Suppose you buy a house for, say, Rs 5 million, a large sum in India. When you try to register it in your name at the municipality you will be asked to pay thousands in cash. If you refuse your file will suddenly disappear and you will keep running from one fellow to another forever. If you help the police to arrest the crook he will be merely transferred and you will be marked as a trouble maker. Without registration you cannot get electricity or water connections so you continue to pay rent. We are helpless. Hang all the criminals. Let us start afresh.