New Delhi:
The making of the Lokpal Bill has seen a series of unsuccessful meetings between the government representatives and civil society members of the drafting panel.
In a bid to evolve consensus over the widely-debated bill, the government today convened an all-party meeting that is currently underway at the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence.
Striking a firm note, the Prime Minister, right at the start of the meeting, said that the Lokpal has to function within the framework of the Constitution.
(Read: PM's opening remarks at the all-party meet)"Lokpal has to add to, not detract from role, authority of other institutions", he said.
In the same vein, he also said that a "widest possible consensus" was important to formulate the bill.
Something that the drafting panel of the bill has, so far, failed to achieve. But sources say there's not much scope of all parties converging at a common ground.
Before the all-party meeting, a Congress Core Group meeting was held at party president Sonia Gandhi's house today.
Ahead of the meeting, BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "BJP is not there to bail out the Congress party, because it has created the mess and it should face the mess. And that is why we say that let us have the full bill in front of us, we will certainly respond. The very fact that they cannot come to common understanding with the civil rights activists, also gives us the reason to believe that they are not very much interested in finding the solution."
The bill is intended to help rout corruption among politicians and bureaucrats. Five ministers and five activists led by Gandhian Anna Hazare were assigned to draft the Bill. But so dramatic were the differences between the two sides that India now has two drafts of the same Bill.
Both the sides have had eight rounds of meeting so far. The key sticking points are the inclusion of the Prime Minister and the higher judiciary under the ambit of the bill, something that Team Anna has been demanding from the very beginning.
The all-party meeting will discuss both the bills.
Apart from Anna Hazare and his team of activists, the meeting is being attended by parties across the political spectrum. The BJP and the Left are participating in the meeting. Janata Dal (United) (JD-U), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Telegu Desam Party (TDP), Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) are also attending the meeting. Shiv Sena and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S), however, have stayed away. (
Read: NDA to attend Lokpal meet, Shiv Sena to skip)
But, what could add to the government's woes is the fact that some of the parties have voiced their support for the inclusion of the Prime Minister in the contentious bill. Something that Team Anna striving to include in the legislation.
"There is no issue in including the PM under Lokpal...other sticking points need to be looked at...Congress is desperate for support in the wake of deteriorating relations between Hazare and them", said CPI's National Secretary D Raja before the start of the meeting.
In the same breath, Mr Raja criticised Mr Hazare for trying to subvert the parliamentary process by threatening to go on fast.
"We don't support them holding the government to ransom", Mr Raja said.
Ahead of the all-party meet, Mr Hazare had a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday in which he pressed for the inclusion of the Prime Minister and judiciary under the ambit of the legislation.
Emerging after the 30-minute talks, Mr Hazare said that a "proper" draft of Lokpal Bill should go to Parliament and that he will respect whatever the House decides as he was not against Parliament or democracy. The Gandhian, however, threatened to go on an indefinite fast from August 16 if a "proper" draft is not brought before Parliament.
In the meeting that was marked by "cordiality and courtesy", Mrs Gandhi assured Mr Hazare that she will apprise the government of their views once more. (
Read: Talks productive, says Anna after meeting with Sonia)
AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi, who was present during the parleys, said that no contentious issue, including of bringing the PM and judiciary under Lokpal, figured during the meeting with Gandhi but added that they have no problem with what Mr Hazare chose to say outside about his plans. (
Read: We are ready to face bullets for Lokpal Bill, says Anna Hazare)
After the meeting, Mr Dwivedi told reporters that the party will go by the "final decision that emerges from within the government" and will "welcome whatever view emerges through collective wisdom of Parliament".
Pranab Mukherjee, who headed the Joint Committee that drafted the Lokpal Bill, and senior Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai were present in the meeting.
The government says it will introduce the bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is barely a month away.
But given the political divide, it may well be referred to a standing committee. And if that happens it's unlikely the bill will be passed by August 15, the deadline earlier set by Anna Hazare.