Centre seeks views of CMs, political parties on Lokpal

Seeking to widen consultations, the Centre on Tuesday wrote to all Chief Ministers and leaders of political parties eliciting their views on issues including whether to bring the Prime Minister under Lokpal.A day after civil society activists on the Joint Drafting Committee on the Bill threatened to take to streets, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal addressed a press conference to make it clear that the government was committed to bringing a Bill in the Monsoon session of Parliament.

Govt. against bringing Prime Minister under Lokpal

Sharp differences came to the surface at a meeting of the drafting committee for Lokpal bill on Monday with the government strongly opposing proposals for inclusion of Prime Minister, higher judiciary and acts of Members of Parliament inside Parliament under its purview.At the meeting held under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, contentious issues came up for discussion in the committee for the first time.

Lokpal panel members agree on basic principles of legislation

A month after Anna Hazare's hunger strike on Lokpal Bill issue, representatives of the government and the civil society on Saturday agreed on basic principles of the proposed legislation on anti-corruption ombudsman like transparency in selection process and autonomy.However, inclusion of Prime Minister and judiciary in the ambit of the Lokpal was a sticking point and the issue was flagged for broader discussion at the next meeting scheduled for 23rd May.

People back at Jantar Mantar, it's war on corruption

Supporters of Anna Hazare took out a march here on Sunday extending their support to civil society members of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee.Armed with banners, placards, posters and flags, the supporters, after assembling at Jantar Mantar, started their march towards India Gate where a programme of songs and street play was held to pledge their support to the anti-corruption movement being spearheaded by Mr. Hazare. Supporters lit candles at India Gate to express solidarity with the cause.

2nd meeting of Lokpal bill drafting comm on Mon

The Joint Drafting Comm comprising five Union ministers and as many representatives of civil society to frame an effective anti-graft law will hold its second meeting on Monday to discuss the latest version of the Jan Lokpal Bill prepared by Anna Hazare's team.Ahead of the meeting to be held in New Delhi on Monday, Chairman of the Committee, Pranab Mukherjee will hold a strategy session with government representatives to firm up Centre's stand on the latest draft of the Jan Lokpal Bill which, among other things, envisages a provision empowering the office of the Lokpal to intercept telephone conversations.

Row won't affect drafting of Lokpal Bill: Govt

Government has said controversies involving some civil society members of the joint comm for drafting the Lokpal Bill would not affect its working and will work with the members to prepare a "strong and sound" anti-corruption legislation. 

After a meeting of Congress' Core Group headed by Sonia Gandhi with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by her side in New Delhi on Friday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said controversies "won't affect" the working of Lokpal Bill drafting panel.

Sonia says there is urgent necessity to combat graft and corruption

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said there is urgent necessity to combat graft and corruption and urged Anna Hazare in a letter not to doubt her commitment in the fight for probity in public life. 

Responding to Anna Hazare's complaint against her "colleagues", Congress President Sonia Gandhi today assured him that she does not support "politics of smear campaign" and she was strongly committed to the institution of Lokpal.