Govt to consult civil society groups on Lokpal Bill
The government has agreed to hold consultations with civil society groups in formulating the draft Lokpal bill to fight corruption in high offices, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said on Tuesday.
An assurance in this regard was given by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to a group who met him on Monday evening under the banner of ‘India Against Corruption’. The group, that included Anna Hazare, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan and Swami Agnivesh, urged the government to take urgent steps to curb corruption in the government and called for improvement in the current draft Lokpal bill.
Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, who was also present at the meeting, suggested that a sub-committee of the Group of Ministers on corruption could hold meetings with civil society groups before finalising the Lokpal Bill, which is likely to be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament.
The Prime Minister requested Hazare to call off his planned fast from April 5 in protest against government “inaction” on corruption.