Lokpal: All-party meet over, No Consensus.

Mtoday news/ IndiaTV

New Delhi, Dec 14: All-party meeting tonight failed to reach consensus on Lokpal Bill with parties voicing divergent views on key elements like inclusion of PM and lower bureaucracy, even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sought cooperation to ensure its passage during the current session.

Singh said the “momentous” Lokpal Bill should not become a subject of party politics as the government was keen to get it passed in Parliament based on consensus that is driven by the House as the “custodian of legislation”.

Seeking “guidance and cooperation in this matter of paramount importance”, Singh said, “I am personally keen that this momentous legislation should be passed on the basis of consensus among all parties as far as possible and that this should not be subjected to party politics in any way.”

 

 

The nearly three-hour long meeting, however, saw divergent views being aired by leaders of the parties, with BJP pitching for inclusion of Group C and D employees under the Lokpal, a stand staunchly opposed by CPI.

BJP and other opposition parties also demanded that CBI’s investigative wing should come under Lokpal, sources said.

However, both the Left and Right were on the same page with regard to inclusion of PM under the Lokpal, they said.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said his party feels that Group C and D cannot be brought under Lokpal because there are crores of such employees.

There should be separate mechanism to deal with them, he told reporters.

The Left parties also demanded that Lokpal be accountable to Parliament.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leader S S Dhindsa said that CBI should be independent but Lokpal should have a say in the selection of the CBI Director.

There was also a strong demand for reservation in Lokpal for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

Earlier, while welcoming the leaders, the Prime Minister said the government is committed to implement in letter and spirit a “good and effective” Lokpal Bill that would have a “quick and positive impact in further curbing the cancer of corruption without any adverse effects on the efficiency of our system of public administration.”

Asking everyone to “keep the interests of the country foremost in our minds”, he said “the government is also keen that we must make all efforts to pass a Lokpal Bill in this very session that is based on consensus and that is driven by Parliament as the custodian of legislation.”

He wanted leaders of the parties to indicate how far the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee meet the sense of Parliament and how far the various provisions are feasible and efficacious.

Today’s meeting came close on the heels of consultations held by the Prime Minister with UPA allies yesterday which saw the ruling alliance projecting a united face on the issue.

The Lokpal Bill is expected to come up for consideration in the Lok Sabha on December 20, two days before the Winter Session of Parliament concludes.

There is a talk that the session may be extended by a day and the government could also think of a small session in January next for the purpose.

Anna Hazare has threatened to go on an indefinite fast from December 27 in case the Lokpal Bill was not passed in the current session.