Political career for Indian Youth- government committed to bring strong Lokpal Bill

Government says, it is committed to bring a strong and sound Lok Pal Bill by 30th of this month to fight corruption.

The Government today said that it is committed to draft a strong and sound Lokpal Bill by 30th of this month to fight corruption. Briefing the media in New Delhi, the Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram said that the bill is intended to put in place a strong institution to combat corruption. He said that it is a complex bill and a holistic approach should be adopted in drafting the same. He expressed the hope that the Civil Society members in the Joint Drafting Committee will extend full cooperation in achieving the task.

Mr. Chidambaram, however, added that discussions on the issue cannot be reduced to double choices. In reply to a question the Home Minister said that laws are made by elected representatives not only from the Congress party but the entire political spectrum. When asked to comment on Mr. Anna Hazare's resolve to sit on fast again, if a weak bill is passed, Mr. Chidambaram said that fasting is not the way of drafting the bill.

Speaking on the same subject Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said that there are serious differences of opinion with civil society members on some aspects of the bill including the structure of the Lokpal and its jurisdiction. On the question of inclusion of Prime Minister and MPs under the ambit of the bill, the Minister said that the issue is still open for discussion as several views have emerged and they have also to consult political parties in this regard. He also clarified that no two drafts will be sent to the Cabinet but a single draft will be presented with two alternatives wherever differences of opinion persist. Taking a strong exception to the comments made by some Civil Society activists questioning the intention and motive of the government, Mr. Sibal said this is not the way to carry forward the discourse.

On the other hand, addressing the media in the capital today, Anna Hazare alleged that government is not serious about drafting a strong Lokpal bill. He also asked the government to make public the audio recordings of the Joint Draft Committee's meetings so that people can judge both the versions on bill.

On its part, Congress rejected Anna Hazare's allegations of the government being non serious in tackling corruption. Party spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan said that no government has done more than the current UPA regime.