New Delhi:
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress ministers P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal and Ajay Maken addressing the media on the Lokpal Bill this evening.
Following are the highlights:
Rahul Gandhi
- Discussion has been going on for a while
- Now this bill is a strong bill that will transform corruption
- Congress fully supports this bill
- Hope opposition and all parties will help us get this bill passed
- This is a matter of national interest. We would like for parties to set aside their differences work together to deliver this
- All parties should support this bill
- (On urgency) actually no this is not an urgency. We have been struggling with this for a long time. We are 99% there with broad consensus... Nothing to do with AAP. It is to fight corruption
- This isn't a matter of victory and loss. This bill is important for the nation therefore we want to pass this bill. Now there is consensus
- We are at the finishing line
- Congress is committed for this bill
- The single biggest step and a much bigger step against corruption is the RTI
- What we need is 99% there, we need 1%
- Confident that we can finish and deliver the Lokpal
P Chidambaram- We are adding to the framework of anti-corruption legislation
- We had passed the Lokpall bill in Lok Sabha after extensive debate
- The Opposition party supported the bill
- This bill reflects all that this nation has debated and expects
- No party says, we shouldn't have a bill
- I appeal to parties that have reservations, to help us cross the line
- We are almost there
- We can have a Lokpal if parties set aside their reservations
Kapil Sibal- This bill has decided that CBI will work under the Lokpal... Separate director and investigation agency
- Process of selection is also outlined in this bill
- Congress, UPA's intentions are clear
- The steps that we are taking, don't think anyone else has taken such steps
- Our government has taken thos kadam (solid steps)