It will also seek the opinion of the state chief ministers before sending the draft to the union cabinet for approval.
In an interview to Doordarshan, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said, that agreements and disagreements on the draft will be presented before political parties. He said, after the cabinet nod, the Bill will be introduced in Parliament.
Earlier Sibal told TIA that the government was opposed to the idea of bringing the post of Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal till he demits office. He said it was not a question of an individual but an institution and asserted that no Prime Minister in office anywhere in the world has been prosecuted. He also ruled out opening the conduct of MPs inside Parliament and the higher judiciary to the scrutiny of the Lokpal.
Sibal said, the issue of tackling corruption was important and the government does not consider that the civil society did anything wrong by highlighting it. He said, he was not in favour of bringing CBI and CVC under the Lok Pal and that the government was flexible on the issue of inclusion of officials below the Joint Secretary level under the Lokpal.
Meanwhile the Congress core committee met in here to discuss the issue of bringing the Prime Minister within the ambit of the Lokpal as differences have emerged between the government and Anna group on the issue. It was presided over by the party President Sonia Gandhi. Our correspondent understands, that an all party meeting is likely to be called to discuss the issue.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Lokayukt Santosh Hegde who is a member of drafting committee, said in Bangaluru that he was not in favour of Anna Hazare undertaking his planned fast from August 6, if a strong Lokpal Bill is not prepared.
BJP ready for APM on Lok Pal
PATNA/NEW DELHI: (AMN) The BJP on Saturday said, it was not opposed to taking part in an All Party Meet (APM) on the issue of Lok Pal. However it said that it will open its views on bringing the Prime Minister in the ambit of the Lokpal only after the Congress and the government circulate their views on the issue.
BJP chief spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad told media here that the BJP has a categorical view on the issue of corruption but declined to answer whether his party favoured the Prime Minister being brought in the ambit of the proposed legislation.
The CPI on Saturday said the draft Lok Pal Bill should be distributed among the political parties for a proper debate. Senior CPI leader D. Raja said in New Delhi that once his party gets a communication, it will definitely discuss it within the party and also consult other Left parties and take a stand.