Lokpal Bill all-party meeting after 30 June

Lokpal draft has attention of PM Manmohan Singh who has been scoring on the point that government is serious in fighting corruption but is reacting and acting against those fighting for anti-graft.His popularity in touching low ebb and he is being looked upon as shield-er of corrupt people rather than eradicating corruption.Thus official media reports,A meeting of UPA leaders is being held Tuesday a part of efforts to ascertain views of the alliance partners over the drafting of the Lokpal Bill.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened the meeting apparently to consult the constituents of the ruling alliance over ticklish issues such as bringing the post of the PM under the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog.There has been divergence of views among UPA allies on the issue. While Congress and NCP have expressed opposition, DMK is reported to be favouring it.The government has already given hints that it would convene an all-party meeting in July to discuss the inclusion of the post of the Prime Minister under the Lokpal's purview.The all-party meeting would be held after the joint drafting committee completes the process of drafting the Lokpal Bill by June 30.

After an acrimonious meeting last week, the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill today agreed on most of the issues but new areas of disagreement like the manner of selection and removal of the ombudsman came up adding to persisting differences on contentious aspects.

Both the government side and the Anna Hazare team said the three-hour-long meeting was held in a "very cordial atmosphere" but differed on the extent of its success.The committee will meet tomorrow for the last time during which both the sides will exchange their drafts on which they will comment upon.HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters that 80 to 85 per cent issues were resolved while activists Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan differed on this percentage but contended that there was consensus on majority of the issues.