New Delhi:
There were no surprises as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's all-party meet failed to evolve a consensus on the Lokpal Bill on Friday. BJP leader Arun Jaitley, after the meeting, aptly put it as "the only consensus was on the lack of consensus."
Along with Mr Jaitley, BSP's S C Mishra, RJD's Ram Kripal Yadav, SP's Ram Gopal Yadav, NCP'S Tariq Anwar and CPI's A B Bardhan met at the Prime Minister's residence to discuss the controversial bill, to which 97 amendments have been moved by Opposition members in the Upper House. Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, A K Antony and Salman Khurshid were among those present at the meeting.
But after two hours of brainstorming, a consensus eluded the political spectrum and the Congress found itself standing among friends and foes on the issue of Lokayuktas.
After the meeting, the BJP slammed the government for not being sincere on the Lokpal Bill.
"The UPA partners were not in favour of the government draft. I think they should present an amended bill in Parliament; they have got the message loud and clear," BJP leader Arun Jaitley told NDTV.
"On certain issues, there was consensus but the consensus was completely against the government draft (of the Lokpal Bill)," Mr Jaitley added.
It wasn't just the Opposition, but the UPA's key allies like the Trinamool Congress and the DMK also called the government's draft of the Lokpal Bill a 'flawed bill'. The Opposition and the key allies were unified on the issue of Lokayuktas in states. All of them want states should be free to decide on the Lokayukta's constitution and if the Centre wants to talk about the issue, it should largely be an enabling legislation.
"It (the govt draft) will affect the federal character of the constitution and the autonomy of the state," said Trinamool's Sukhendu Sekhar Roy. DMK leader Tiruchi Siva, said, "the states' rights should be taken care of."
The biggest stumbling block for the government is the division over the powers of the Lokayukta in states and the role of the CBI. This means the bill is likely to be further stalled.
(Read 10 big facts on the Lokpal Bill)The Left and some other parties want the CBI to be monitored by the Lokpal, especially in corruption investigations. There have also been demands for an independent investigation agency under the Lokpal to look at corruption cases.
"Whether it's CBI or any other investigation agency, the power to investigate and supervise the whole process should be granted to the Lokpal. If the CBI is investigating a corruption case, then that investigation should come under the Lokpal. There was no consensus on this issue but this is what our stand is," CPM leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters after the meeting.
"The bill cannot come up in the Rajya Sabha this week as we have to pass the Budget," he added.
The Samajwadi Party, which has been supporting the UPA in Parliament, is also not interested in Lokpal in its present form. The SP said it is a "flawed bill" and that it should be sent to a select committee of Parliament for review.
Social activist Anna Hazare and his team, meanwhile, have renewed their pressure on the government.
Mr Hazare told reporters in Delhi today," We've learnt that the PM's meeting has failed to evolve consensus. On March 25, we'll protest at Jantar Mantar. We will tell the people that the government is not serious about the Lokpal Bill, about fighting corruption. The bill in its present form will not be an effective tool against corruption."
(Team Anna gears up for protest at Jantar Mantar)The Congress faces a major dilemma; it can't have allies moving amendments which the opposition wants as its numbers in Rajya Sabha are poor. Congress needs to win back disagreeing UPA allies. If not, then go with what the friends and foes want.