An 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.
CBI in or out?
Opposition parties also demanded the CBI should be an independent and transparent body under the Lokpal.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who emerged from the meeting, told reporters he had demanded the Central Bureau of Investigation should be an independent body.
BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and other opposition leaders demanded that the prime minister should be under the purview of the Lokpal, he added.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pyarimohan Mohapatra, who also spoke to reporters, said the party wanted a mechanism to ensure the CBI is independent and transparent.
Prime Minister's address
In his address, the prime minister said that members from all political parties have been 'invited' to the meeting to seek their 'guidance and views' on the Bill.
"It is for this august group to indicate how far the recommendations of the standing committee meet the sense of the parliament and how far the various provisions are feasible and efficacious," he added.
"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.
"This is an occasion where we must keep the interests of the country foremost in our minds.
"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 added.
He said a similar meet was held in Aug 24 when Hazare was fasting at Ramlila Maidan for a strong Lokpal.
"Based on that discussion, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had made a statement on the same day in both the houses of parliament about the sense of the two Houses," he added.
Quoting his letter of August 27 to Hazare, he said that he had 'requested him to end his fast'.
"I had said that the parliament had agreed in principle on three matters," he said, while listing Citizen's Charter, inclusion of lower bureaucracy under the Lokpal through an appropriate mechanism and the establishment of Lokayukta in the states - as the three key demand of Hazare.
"The sense of the houses and the records of discussions in parliament had then been conveyed to the standing committee for their guidance," he added.
He said the standing committee formed to examine the Lokpal bill has completed its deliberations.
Manmohan Singh praised the panel for completing its report in 'record time'.
"All of you would have seen the recommendations of the standing committee on the various issues and also the corresponding provisions of the draft bill tabled by the government earlier," he added.