New Delhi:
The inclusion of the Prime Minister under the ambit of the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill does not have to be a straight forward 'Yes or No' choice says the Government.. According to Home Minister P Chidambaram, "This is not a binary choice...there could be a yes, no or a yes with qualifications."
Responding to reports that talks on the Lokpal bill are stalled, Mr Chidmabaram, who is one of the government members on the panel drafting the Bill, said states and parties will be asked whether Prime Minister, higher judiciary and MPs' acts inside Parliament should be brought within the ambit of the Lokpal.
Briefing newspersons in New Delhi, Mr Chidambaram said, "They have also been asked whether there should be a Lokpal and Lokayukt and whether it should single or multi-member body." Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who is the chairman of the panel will be writing to all political parties and state governments in a bid to evolve consensus, Mr Chidambaram said.
"We will try our best to draft Lokpal Bill by June 30," he added.
Yesterday, after a three-hour meeting, the government had refused to concede to the basic principles demanded by Anna Hazare and his nominees.
The two sides disagreed on the Prime Minister coming under the purview of the Lokpal. They further disagreed over the inclusion of judiciary under the Lokpal. The government was of the view that it should be self-regulatory, but the civil society members disagreed.
Meanwhile, chinks are beginning to be seen in the armour after differences in the anti-corruption movement over the demand for inclusion of the Prime Minister and higher judiciary under the purview of the Lokpal.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who staunchly supported Mr Hazare's campaign, now says that questions shouldn't be asked of the foremost leaders in a democracy, but added that he did not want to go into the controversial issue. (Read: Differences over inclusion of PM in Lokpal purview)
"People holding positions in the Constitution should be included in it. But I don't want to get into the controversy of inclusion of the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice; it is a very critical question. It is a serious matter if there are unnecessary comments made about the person holding a senior position in the democracy. If the Chief Justice does not understand his work then how can we say the Lokayukta will be better?" Baba Ramdev said.
However, Ramdev says he will go ahead with his fast against corruption and black money. The yoga guru has threatened an indefinite fast from June 4 along with lakhs of supporters. (Watch: No question of calling off fast, says Ramdev)
RTI activist and one of the prominent supporters of Mr Hazare's campaign, Arvind Kejriwal, told NDTV that he will try to convince Ramdev on inclusion of PM under the Lokpal. (Watch)
Responding to reports that talks on the Lokpal bill are stalled, Mr Chidmabaram, who is one of the government members on the panel drafting the Bill, said states and parties will be asked whether Prime Minister, higher judiciary and MPs' acts inside Parliament should be brought within the ambit of the Lokpal.
Briefing newspersons in New Delhi, Mr Chidambaram said, "They have also been asked whether there should be a Lokpal and Lokayukt and whether it should single or multi-member body." Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who is the chairman of the panel will be writing to all political parties and state governments in a bid to evolve consensus, Mr Chidambaram said.
"We will try our best to draft Lokpal Bill by June 30," he added.
Yesterday, after a three-hour meeting, the government had refused to concede to the basic principles demanded by Anna Hazare and his nominees.
The two sides disagreed on the Prime Minister coming under the purview of the Lokpal. They further disagreed over the inclusion of judiciary under the Lokpal. The government was of the view that it should be self-regulatory, but the civil society members disagreed.
Meanwhile, chinks are beginning to be seen in the armour after differences in the anti-corruption movement over the demand for inclusion of the Prime Minister and higher judiciary under the purview of the Lokpal.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who staunchly supported Mr Hazare's campaign, now says that questions shouldn't be asked of the foremost leaders in a democracy, but added that he did not want to go into the controversial issue. (Read: Differences over inclusion of PM in Lokpal purview)
"People holding positions in the Constitution should be included in it. But I don't want to get into the controversy of inclusion of the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice; it is a very critical question. It is a serious matter if there are unnecessary comments made about the person holding a senior position in the democracy. If the Chief Justice does not understand his work then how can we say the Lokayukta will be better?" Baba Ramdev said.
However, Ramdev says he will go ahead with his fast against corruption and black money. The yoga guru has threatened an indefinite fast from June 4 along with lakhs of supporters. (Watch: No question of calling off fast, says Ramdev)
RTI activist and one of the prominent supporters of Mr Hazare's campaign, Arvind Kejriwal, told NDTV that he will try to convince Ramdev on inclusion of PM under the Lokpal. (Watch)
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