A meeting of UPA leaders on the contentious Lokpal bill witnessed DMK voicing the demand that the office of Prime Minister should come within its ambit.
After the Team Anna and government representatives parted ways today with their separate versions of the draft Lokpal Bill after they failed to resolve — in nine meetings since April 8 — critical issues that included its basic structure and the inclusion of the Prime Minister and the higher judiciary within the ambit of Lokpal.
Government on Saturday said prima facie it was opposed to the inclusion of Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal but was open to the idea to cover him once he demits office.
At the same time, he said the government will only decide on the issue after the draft bill goes to the Cabinet.
"Anna Hazare is like the 'Pied Piper of Hamelin'. The tune is lilting and people were upset with corruption just as government is.
Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh has favoured bringing the Prime Minister and the higher judiciary under the ambit of the Lokpal.
"Anna Hazare should take part in the meetings of the joint draft committee preparing the Lokpal Bill, instead of speaking against the government," Singh said.
Singh said the UPA government was serious over the issues of corruption and black money.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is learnt to have indicated to his party colleagues that he is willing to be brought under the ambit of the proposed Lokpal.
Government today made clear its opposition to bringing the post of Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal till he demits office and ruled out opening the conduct of MPs inside Parliament as also the higher judiciary to scrutiny of the proposed ombudsman.
Mr. Singh saw no difference between the protests by Mr. Hazare and yoga guru Ramdev.
Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan said that no one can find a reason for not including prime minister.
The government on Saturday said prima facie it was opposed to the inclusion of the prime minister under the ambit of Lokpal but was open to the idea of covering him once he demits office.
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