Prime Minister,Team Anna for dialogue on Lokpal Bill

Hours later Arvind Kejriwal,who has emerged as a hardliner in the Anna camp,said that they were ready for talks and asked “whom should we meet,where should we meet and when should we meet.”

Pandering to the populist mood at Ramlila Grounds where Hazare is fasting,his associates Kejriwal,Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi spoke some tough words like “we cannot trust this government”,but at the same time maintained that the government should come forward and start discussions.

There were no signs as to which side would take the initiative to break the deadlock,but it was obvious that the move would have to come soon since Hazare would enter sixth day of his fast tomorrow. As of now,his vital health parameters were “stable.”

Calling for a broad national consensus on Lokpal,the Prime Minister expressed the hope that the government can enlist the cooperation of “all thinking segments of Indian public opinion to ensure that the end-product is a strong and effective Lokpal which all sections of our community want”.

“…We are open to discussion and dialogue. We like a broad national consensus to emerge. We are all in favour of a Lokpal which is strong and which is effective,” he said.

Asked about Anna Hazare’s demand that the Jan Lokpal should be passed by Parliament by August 30,Singh said “well,clearly,I think there are difficulties. It is a logic of the legislative process.”

Meanwhile,a Parliamentary Committee examining the Lokpal Bill today sought suggestions from the public within 15 days,making it clear that the August 30 deadline set by Hazare on passing the anti-corruption legislation would not be met.

The move was termed as a ‘waste of time’ by Team Anna which asserted the Committee should totally reject government bill.

Coming down heavily on Team Anna,Minister of State for the PMO V Narayanasamy said its criticism of the Standing Committee was a “clear case of breach of privilege” and calling MPs “thieves” is equal to casting aspersion on Parliament itself.

The minister also asked the Team Anna not to cross ‘Lakshman rekha’ (limit).

Reacting to the charge,Kejriwal said “we have not crossed any limits but what we are saying is that the government is using the Committee as a shield.”

The Team Anna also refuted the charge that they were trying to extract assurance from the government on ‘gunpoint’.

“We are being accused that we are demanding passing of this bill by the government on a gunpoint. If government is saying….Parliament will take a decision on the bill. We are common people who want Jan Lokpal like this”,it said.

To a question that Congress has alleged his agitation was backed by BJP and RSS,Hazare said “people who are saying such things should be sent to mental hospital. They have linked us to the United States and now they may link our agitation to Pakistan also.”

When a reporter asked whether there are any differences between NCPRI headed by Aruna Roy on Jan Lokpal Bill,Bhushan said there were some “small” differences.

“We have differences with Aruna Roy on two issues. We have recommended that all government servants should come under Lokpal but she suggests that there can be a separate body to look into the grievances against them,” he said.

To a question,Bhushan said Team Anna was not interested in “pulling down the government but we are fighting to bring about a change in the system.”

Both Kejriwal and Bhushan said they were prepared to talk to the government but would not compromise on the issue of corruption.

“What we are saying is that there is a fundamental defect in the Bill that has been brought by the government in Parliament. We are ready to take and they can incorportae the main elements of the Jan Lokpal Bill. They can table the Bill and Parliament can debate it for 4-5 days and it can take a call on that,” the eminent lawyer said.

He also insisted government conduct a referendum to know how many people want Jan Lokpal to be passed as referendums conducted by ‘India Against Corruption’ have showed that 80 per cent of the people wants the Jan Lokpal Bill to be passed by Parliament.

Kejriwal said the Jan Lokpal Bill was “prepared by people” of this country while the government’s draft was formulated by “five ministers sitting inside a room.”

On whether the movement is becoming anti-Congress now and what is their stand on BJP and other political parties,Kejriwal said “Left is clear. We are upset with BJP. They have not made their stand clear yet.”

Bedi claimed nine parties like TDP have passed a resolution on Jan Lokpal Bill.

Both Kejriwal and Bhushan said the government should also understand that today is the fifth day of Anna’s fast and they should come forward and discuss.

“They should understand that government’s policies on corruption are forcing them to come out and take on,” he told the gathering.

To a volley of questions on government’s contention that they can go and testify before the Parliamentary Standing Committee that is examining the Bill,Kejriwal said government has made the Parliamentary Committee as a “shield” and wanted to know how many recommendations made to different panels have been accepted so far.

“We want to know how many suggestions that were put forth before the Standing Committees have been accepted? The government has drafted a Whistleblowers Bill,which is completely wrong. Our Lokpal Bill gives protection to people who blow the whistle on corruption,” he said.

“Two versions of Lokpal is before the people of this country. We want the Jan Lokpal Bill to be brought in Parliament this session. We are trying to change the attitude of the government on corruption,” Kejriwal said.

The RTI activist also said the Standing Committee has members like Lalu Prasad and Amar Singh and “how can one expect a Bill” on corruption from them.

Bedi also said while this is for the first time that the civil society was involved in drafting a Bill in India,in the UK,Japan and the US pre-legislative discourses are held before a legislation is drafted.

On suggestions that the Lokpal Bill cannot be passed immediately,Kejriwal said Shanti Bhushan has said a law can be passed in Parliament in three days.