New Delhi, July 04: There is no consensus yet again on the Lokpal bill. Anna Hazare may rethink his August 16 fast as political parties push back civil society saying Parliament will decide shape of the Lokpal bill.
There is no clarity on who will eventually create the final draft of the Lokpal bill. A crucial all-party meeting called by the Prime Minister to end the deadlock proved inconclusive. Parties now say its not civil society but Parliament that would determine the shape of the Anti-corruption law.
There was no consensus at the end of a 3-hour long all-party meeting on Sunday. It simply became a platform for the Opposition parties to attack the government for not taking them on board the Lokpal deliberations earlier and for the government to delay a final decision. A one line resolution calling for a strong Lokpal is all that was achieved, almost as if it was a perfect script.
The stage was set by the Prime Minister himself who said at the beginning that it is important that such an institutional arrangement enjoys the support of as large a section of people as possible and that there is the widest possible consensus regarding the bill.
It’s the BJP though which remains non-committal on the entire issue. While the party was bitterly divided even on the question of attending this all party meeting, it asked the government to ensure bringing of a Lokpal bill in monsoon session of Parliament.
“We’ve asked the government to bring the bill in the monsoon session of the Parliament and present it before the standing committee so that the political parties can express their views,” said Sushma Swaraj.
What happened at the meeting
Parties like the CPI, RJD and SP questioned the government’s strategy in dealing with team Anna Hazare.
Most parties while criticising the government also wondered why should civil society dictate the terms of the Lokpal bill.
RJD’s Lalu Yadav criticised the civil society groups saying 120 crore people elect us, who elected them.
AIADMK cautioned frivolous complaints against the Prime Minister will derail the process.
BSP wanted the government to bring the bill in Parliament first before seeking its views.
The outcome of the meeting obviously didnt go down well with the activists.
“It’s sad to see that an institution that could have been set up 44 years ago has been delayed further. If the Prime Minister wants to be included in the ambit of the Lokpal then he should present the mandate to his ministers,” said Santosh Hegde.
It suits the government not to have a consensus. If the bill doesn’t become a reality and Anna resumes his fast, it hopes that unlike last time, this time it won’t have to shoulder the blame alone.
–Agencies