News-Govt to discuss draft Lok Pal bill with all political parties

Government to discuss draft Lok Pal bill with all political parties

Government says it will discuss the draft Lok Pal Bill with all political parties and seek the opinion of State Chief Ministers before sending it to the Union Cabinet for approval. In an interview to Doordarshan Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said, the agreements and disagreements on the draft will be presented before political parties. He said, after the cabinet approval, the bill will be introduced in Parliament.

In another interview to a private TV channel, Mr. Sibal said the government is opposed to bringing the post of Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal till he demits office. He said it is not a question of an individual but an institution and asserted that no Prime Minister in office anywhere in the world has ever been prosecuted.

He also ruled out opening the conduct of MPs inside Parliament and the higher judiciary to the scrutiny of the Lokpal. He said, he is not in favour of bringing CBI and CVC under the Lok Pal and that the government is flexible on the issue of inclusion of officials below the level of Joint Secretary under the Lokpal. The Congress core committee met in New Delhi yesterday to discuss the issue of bringing the Prime Minister within the ambit of Lokpal as differences have emerged between the government and the civil society representatives on the issue.

It is understood that an all party meeting is likely to be called soon to discuss the issue. Meanwhile, Karnataka Lokayukt Santosh Hegde who is a member of the Lok Pal Bill drafting committee said in Bangaluru that he is not in favour of Anna Hazare undertaking his planned fast from Aug. 16, if a strong Lokpal Bill is not prepared.

BJP chief spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad told reporters in Patna that BJP has a categorical view on the issue of corruption but declined to answer whether his party favoured the Prime Minister being brought within the ambit of the proposed legislation.

The CPI said the draft Lok Pal bill should be circulated among the political parties for a proper debate. CPI leader D Raja said in New Delhi that once his party gets a communication, it will definitely discuss it within the party and also consult other Left parties and take a stand.