New Delhi: The Congress Working Committee met in Delhi this evening; its session was devoted to the Lokpal Bill which has thrust the government into conflict with activists, and has provoked Gandhian Anna Hazare to announce a new fast starting August 16.The Lokpal Bill - intended to combat corruption among politicians and bureaucrats - has been described as a "betrayal of India" by Mr Hazare. The Congress today said it backs the government's Bill. Whether this new Bill should cover the Prime Minister's Office - which has headlined the controversy - was also discussed. The party said it will support the government on this point. "No government should succumb to pressure from a few individuals" was the Congress' summation.
Mr Hazare served on the committee that was meant to draft the Bill. The panel - which combined five activists and five ministers - had such wide-ranging differences that they've decided to present two drafts of the same Bill for discussion. A meeting of all political parties on July 3 will review both drafts.
At the Congress meet today, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who were both on the Lokpal Drafting Committee briefed the party on the Bill's features.
In preparation, Team Anna met Opposition leader LK Advani today to brief him on their draft. They want the Loklal - an ombudsman of 11 members - to be able to investigate allegations of corruption against the PM, senior judges and all bureaucrats. The government has not included the PM in its draft. Team Anna has also challenged the procedure recommended by the government for both the selection and dismissal of Lokpal members. The activists feel the government has allowed too much clout for politicians in those processes, thereby defeating the purpose of the bill.
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