Congress terms Hazare’s agitation rigid
April 8th, 2011 - 6:56 pm ICT by ANINew Delhi, Apr 8 (ANI): As the stalemate over the Jan Lokpal Bill continues for the fourth day, the Congress Party on Friday termed social activist Anna Hazare’s fast for a stronger anti-corruption Lokpal Bill as rigid.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the government has agreed to everything except a legal notification on the anti-corruption ombudsman bill drafting committee since it can set an anti-parliamentary and anti-democracy precedent for future.
“All points of substance have been met. We have agreed for a joint drafting committee. We will introduce the Bill (Lokpal Bill) in the monsoon session. The committee will have five nominee ministers of the Government and five members of Hazare,” said Singhvi.
“The Congress is with the crusade against corruption. We have shown that whenever there are credible allegations the Congress party has taken concrete actions and full transparency has been maintained. We are with the nation and with the civil society in this crusade against corruption. We are taking steps for the Lokpal Bill,” he added.
The government talked tough on Hazare’s demand for an effective Lokpal Bill earlier today, saying it cannot accede to the demands of the chairmanship of the joint drafting committee being given to a civil society member and for issuing an official notification.
A meeting of Sibal with anti-corruption activists Swami Agnivesh and Arvind Kejriwal, which was scheduled to be held this morning, did not take place with both sides saying they were waiting for each other.
According to reports, Sibal later held a held a telephonic conversation with Agnivesh, where the former clearly stated the government’s stand on the issue and also called for another round of talks at 6 p.m. today.
“Only government officials will be members of the join drafting committee. We are willing to issue an official letter instead of a notification from the department of the government of India, maybe the Law ministry, to constitute the committee. All the other conditions are acceptable to us,” said Sibal.
“Third round of talks between government and anti-corruption activists on Lokpal Bill issue will be held at 6 p.m.,” he added. (ANI)
- Lokpal Bill stalemate: Pranab appeals to Hazare to discontinue his fast - Apr 08, 2011
- Deadlock over Lokpal Bill continues, Sibal to negotiate third round of talks - Apr 08, 2011
- Hazare calls for 'Jail Bharo Andolan' from April 12 - Apr 08, 2011
- Hazare fast: Deadlock continues over Lokpal Bill - Apr 07, 2011
- Let's work together, Congress appeals to Anna Hazare - Apr 08, 2011
- Lokpal Bill row: Sonia Gandhi meets PM - Apr 08, 2011
- Sonia Gandhi appeals to Hazare to end fast - Apr 07, 2011
- Modi terms Hazare's fast against corruption similar to 1975 emergency - Apr 07, 2011
- Anna Hazare wins Rabindranath Tagore peace award - Apr 08, 2011
- Talks to end Hazare's fast inconclusive (Lead) - Apr 07, 2011
- Hazare fast: Sibal meets Agnivesh, Kejriwal to pursue constructive dialogue - Apr 07, 2011
- Probable breakthrough in government-civil society stalemate (Lead) - Apr 08, 2011
- PM holds meet, Pranab appeals to Hazare - Apr 08, 2011
- Government rejects Hazare's proposals on anti-graft bill - Apr 08, 2011
- Hazare writes to PM, Sonia Gandhi - Apr 08, 2011
Tags: agitation, anna hazare, arvind kejriwal, chairmanship, concrete actions, congress party, credible allegations, drafting committee, government of india, law ministry, legal notification, monsoon session, official notification, sibal, social activist, society member, stalemate, swami agnivesh, taking steps, telephonic conversation