Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS) Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid Friday said the government will try to table the Lokpal Bill soon but refused to give any timeline for it.

Amidst criticism from opposition and civil socitey on the Lokpal bill draft being weak, the minister strongly defended the government’s intention to being a strong Lokpal bill.

“We will try to present it soon in the parliament, but I cannot tell when,” Khurshid told reporters outside parliament.

“Lot of people want a strong Lokpal bill, if they believe our bill is strong, they will cooperate with us and many will not want Lokpal to be strong, so they will protest because Congress has made a strong Lokpal bill,” he said.

“Whenever some one wants to protest something good, they don’t say I am supporting the bad…” Khurshid said.

He also pitched for Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s suggestion for making Lokpal a constitutional body.

“So that no government can interrupt it (institution of Lokpal), or amend it through majority, for that constitutional status is needed. I think all wise people will welcome it,” he said.

The minister also strongly rebutted the charges leveled by Anna Hazare of the prime minister being weak.

“If some information is reaching Anna ji about our government, the information is not right, there is no truth in it. If I start commenting upon Anna Hazare’s institution that no one listens to him… how do I know? Because of him, all those involved with the Anna movement have accepted prohibition (of alcohol),” he said.

Hazare has reportedly said that the fact that the Lokpal bill does not include many crucial points despite the promises of the prime minister shows that he is weak.

Khurshid added that a slew of measures would be needed along with the Lokpal to curb corruption in realty.

“We will need lots of step along with this, which include a judicial accountability bill, public procurement bill, whistle blower’s bill, citizen’s grievances bill. When all of these will be passed in parliament, I believe there will be a widespread system to end corruption. But I think society needs to be awakened,” he said.