PM talks to allies on Lokpal
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday undertook the crucial exercise of evolving a consensus on the Lokpal Bill — ahead of an all-party meeting on the subject on Wednesday. Various political parties have a divergent range of views on it, and are unsure of the consequences of creating a strong new power centre outside the executive and the legislature.
In Lucknow, UP chief minister Mayawati said Tuesday that the Congress was “soft” on corruption, saying that the Prime Minister, the CBI, and Group C and D government employees should be under the Lokpal’s ambit.
Dr Singh discussed this with the Congress’ UPA allies over a dinner in a bid to bring them on board. The Union Cabinet is expected to take a view on the Lokpal Bill, in the light of the standing committee’s report, before it is tabled in Parliament.
Home minister P. Chidambaram said after Tuesday’s meeting: “There is a broad consensus in UPA-2 on the approach to the Lokpal.” He hoped Wednesday’s all-party meeting would be “productive... and we can reach conclusions on the amendments to the draft Lokpal Bill and bring it before Parliament.”
Those who attended Tuesday’s meeting, he said, had “very fruitful” and “extensive” discussions on the issue. RLD leader Ajit Singh, who joined the UPA Monday, also attended the two-hour meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence.
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