Wednesday 22 June 2011

For Mamata civil society groups enacting "drama" on the issue of corruption

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc: New Delhi:
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of the UPA leaders this evening to ascertain the views of the alliance partners over the drafting of the Lokpal Bill. There has been divergence of views among UPA allies on the inclusion of the post of the Prime Minister under the Lokpal's purview. The government has already said that it would convene an all-party meeting in July to discuss various aspects of the Bill.HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal said that both the sides discussed salient features of the Bill. He said that Government will introduce a strong anti-corruption bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament as promised to the people of India. Mr. Sibal said that differences remain on six key issues which will be now taken to the all party meeting next month before sending it to the Cabinet for final approval. Talking to reporters, noted lawyer Prashant Bhusan said, the government draft does not include Prime Minister within the ambit of the Bill as also the higher judiciary and conduct of MPs inside the House, besides differences on some procedural issues.

Mamata is with UPA on PM's inclusion in Lokpal's ambit issue,she further clarified that inclusion of Prime Minister or Chief Justice of India in the ambit of Lokpal "hardly matters" in the fight against corruption, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said."It is not a big question...whether Prime Minister or Chief Justice is included, it hardly matters. Do you think that inclusion of one person will strengthen the fight against corruption?" she asked.However, she also said that in case the Prime Minister was included in the ambit of Lokpal, "I have no problem. I am with the UPA."

To a question, she denied that she had blamed civil society groups for enacting "drama" on the issue of corruption.In an apparent dig at civil society, she had on Monday said: "Our party is against corruption. But we are also against creating drama."

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