In an attempt to get out of a self-created mess, the government has pressed into operation a backchannel group to parley with sympathisers of the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare. A section in the government and the Congress is also looking at how it can use the private member’s bill, to be introduced in the Lok Sabha by the BJP’s Varun Gandhi on Friday, to extricate itself.
Mr Gandhi is to introduce Mr Hazare’s version, the Jan Lokpal Bill. Sources disclosed that the government has begun holding parleys with some of Mr Hazare’s top supporters in various parts of the country, including Bengaluru, to “amicably settle the issue”. UPA spin doctors are looking at ways and means to get the adamant Mr Hazare “in line”.
Some government spin doctors feel Mr Gandhi’s private member’s bill could be listed and the government should place it for discussion. “This could give us breathing space and also address the grievances being raised by the A-Team,” a senior party functionary said. However, the BJP feels that though the legislation will be listed, the government just might “continue to sit on it”.
When contacted, Mr Gandhi made it clear that his legislation is different from that of the Lokpal Bill sent to a parliamentary standing committee.
“It’s a Jan Lokpal Bill, the way Anna wanted, it’s different from the government’s Lokpal Bill,” Mr Gandhi told this newspaper. It was Mr Gandhi’s decision to move the bill while his party continued to focus more on the slugfest with the government. “Parlia-ment is a forum to reflect public opinion,” he said. He felt his bill would be “supported by all and this could change the nature of Indian politics for the better”.