Giving a new twist to the raging debate over the Lokpal Bill, Union law and justice minister M. Veerappa Moily on Saturday said the proposed piece of legislation was, in fact, an ambitious dream of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
He also went on to say that had it not been for activist Anna Hazare and his campaign, the bill would have been passed in Parliament during the last session itself.
Speaking to reporters here, Dr Moily said that during the AICC plenary session, Mrs Gandhi had come out with five-point programme for the party of which the Lokpal Bill was one. “But for the intervention of Mr Anna Hazare, the bill would have been introduced during the last parliamentary session itself,’’ he said.
“The government had already prepared a draft bill and it was strong. When Mr Hazare took up the matter, we agreed on everything barring three issues. To reach an agreement on those three points, we should rewrite the Constitution to which Mr Hazare was also opposed. The Congress is committed to fighting against corruption by constitutional methods,’’ Dr Moily said.
To a question, Dr Moily said civil society members of the Lokpal Bill panel will attend the next meeting. “They wasted one week and attended the last meeting on June 10. During every meeting, one or other issue is being discussed. The issue on inclusion of the Prime Minister under the ambit of the bill will be deliberated during the meeting with the civil society members,’’ Dr Moily added.