Full transcript of Salman Khurshid's interview with NDTV

New Delhi: On the eve of the debate in the Lok Sabha over the Lokpal Bill, an event coinciding with the start of Anna Hazare's three-day fast in Mumbai, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid said that the despite several voices of dissent, it was the Parliament that would take the final call.

Reacting to Mr Hazare's threat to picket outside Congress President Sonia Gandhi's residence, Mr Khurshid in an interview with NDTV's Sonia Singh, said that even his party could do the same outside the veteran activist's house.

Here is the full transcript of the interview:

Sonia: I spoke just a short while ago to Law Minister Salman Khurshid who is now in a crucial meeting with Parliament ministers on what exactly is going to happen, the strategy tomorrow. I began by asking Mr. Khurshid about the two swords hanging over the government's head - one, Anna Hazare's fast and second and more important, the BJP and the Left, both of whom are going to move major amendments, 37 and 11 amendments tomorrow in Parliament against the current Lokpal Bill.

Khurshid: No, I don't consider it a sword at all. It's part of government's ordinary business. Of course, it is somewhat a historic step that we are taking. We are making arrangements for a new kind of attempt to control corruption wherever it may be found and of course a lot of people have interest, both legitimate and not so legitimate, in what kind of legislation comes through. We will do what we are bound to do and the obligation that we have we will fulfill. It's now for all others to do their job.

Sonia: But Mr. Khurshid, you talk about legitimate and not-so-legitimate interest but there's unity in both Opposition and Team Anna over the fact that they feel this bill has ensured both a weak CBI and weak Lokpal.

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Khurshid: Well, CBI is an independent investigation wing and we have this on the highest authority from the Supreme Court. So we are not going to go by anybody's loose statement about the CBI being independent or not being independent.

Sonia: But Mr. Khurshid, the question of independence is in terms of administrative control over the CBI. The government currently has it.

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Khurshid: Well, the administrative control of the government remains everywhere. You can't have a government within the country and not have control over everything that's happening in the country. Even in the Election Commission there is some extent of administrative control. When the election commissioner travels abroad, the file is signed by the Law Minister. Now, if somebody says it should not happen, so the only people you shouldn't trust in the country is the government that is elected by the people...it doesn't make much sense.

Sonia: So, is the government open to any of the amendments that the Opposition is proposing? The BJP is proposing key amendments on the minority quota. They are saying there is a constitutional issue also over state Lokayuktas being made mandatory by this bill. They said that the appointment process of the CBI director should be relooked at. The Left is making the point that there must be an amendment for an independent investigative wing for the Lokpal. Are you, the government, open to any amendments at the moment?

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Khurshid: Being open to amendments is a decision of the PM and the Cabinet and I cannot see a single minister saying that we are open to amendments. I think the best statement made on this is by Sri Pranab Mukerjee who said, now everything is in the hands of the House and now the House must decide which way we should proceed.

Sonia: And of course Mr. Khurshid it's in the hands of the House and the cynical belief is that the government will be quite happy if the bill does not pass because the government will say, we did our job. Even though the bill has many controversial provisions, even though Anna and Opposition are united against this, you all will say if it does not pass, the government did its job. You are currently in minority in Rajya Sabha as well.

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Khurshid: Well, controversial provision, I am quite not sure but to have everybody in the country agree to everything you are doing is extremely unlikely. I am not quite sure that you in the media always agree on everything that you perceive to be right or wrong but at the end of the day people have to stand up and be counted for whatever position they hold and if there are larger number of people in Parliament who feel that we should do things differently, obviously the outcome will be different. But government will, to the best of its ability, want to legislate in a manner in which after thoughtful reflection, we have drafted the bill. Now it's for Parliament to take the final call.

Sonia: The irony of the Bill is that some say it's too weak, some say there are provisions which are too strong, especially MPs protesting against Section 24 which says that after investigation, Lokpal can forward its report to the Speaker of the House, ask MPs to be hauled up or action to be taken. Do you feel this is going the way the women's reservation bill went?

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Khurshid: I do not want to speculate on anything. Everything is going to be televised in front of the country. You will see what we have to do and we will do that and what other people do and how they will respond, will be seen by the country as well. I think all parties should stand up and account for where they stand. There is no conscience vote. This is ultimately going to be voted in a manner in which each party leadership wants voting to be done and then they will account for what they have done.

Sonia: Of course, other aspect is the Anna Hazare fast that is to begin tomorrow in Mumbai. Already, we have seen 1 lakh registrations online for the jail bharo campaign. There's announcement also that Anna Hazare will picket outside Sonia Gandhi's house on the 30th. Do you feel that the government is again making the mistake of underestimating Anna Hazare and the popular support to him?

Khurshid: I do not think we are underestimating anyone but I think there is a difference between registering online and going to jail. We have been in the business of agitation for a very long time. We are the parties that, in fact, brought agitation in satyagraha to our civilization. So, I do not think people need to teach us lessons about agitation and people's movement.

Sonia: Your specific response Mr. Khurshid to Anna Hazare's announcement that he will be picketing outside Sonia Gandhi's house on the 30th of this month?

Khurshid: Well, it's their choice. I can't say where picketing is permissible or not permissible. I hope Annaji will keep in mind that Congressmen can go and picket at his house as well but this is not a threat. This is only an acceptance of political system and the right to dissent, and right to dissent must belong to everyone, not anyone in particular.

Sonia: And finally sir, you are a minister from Uttar Pradesh. Your reactions to Team Anna joining the election campaign against the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.

Khurshid: I am looking forward to it.