Team Anna seeks TDP’s support for Lokpal bill
July 2nd, 2011 - 6:44 pm ICT by IANS
Hyderabad, July 2 (IANS) Social activist Anna Hazare’s team Saturday sought support of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill.
Hazare’s associate and Right to Information activist Arvind Kejriwal met TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to seek his support for the bill drafted by civil society.
He briefed Naidu on the discussions the civil society representatives have so far held with the government and their objections to the government’s draft bill.
“Mr Naidu said he would discuss the issue in the party and then take a stand,” Kejriwal told reporters after meeting Naidu at his residence here.
“The government is saying a strong Lokpal with the prime minister within its ambit will create a parallel government but our stand is that this will not create a parallel government but will be an independent body,” Kejriwal said.
The RTI activist claimed that the Lokpal would be an independent agency like Central Bureau of Investigation. “In other countries, the anti-corruption body is independent of the executive,” he said.
Kejriwal said while their anti-corruption movement was above politics, they were seeking support of all political parties so that the bill for a strong Lokpal bill is passed in parliament.
TDP MP N. Nageswara Rao told reporters that Naidu agreed with the need for a comprehensive Lokpal bill and an independent agency to deal firmly with corruption.
He said the TDP would present its views at an all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and take a clear stand in parliament.
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- Consensus eludes all-party meet on Lokpal bill (Second Lead) - Jul 03, 2011
- We want strong Lokpal bill, BJP tells Team Hazare (Lead) - Jul 01, 2011
- BJP, Team Anna agree on Jan Lokpal Bill - Aug 26, 2011
- Anna Hazare plans fast unto death for strong Lokpal bil - Apr 04, 2011
- Nitish to use Lokpal bill for Lokayukta in Bihar (Second Lead) - Jun 30, 2011
- PM ready for 'give and take' as Hazare continues fast (Roundup) - Aug 20, 2011
- Lokpal debate collapses amid acrimony, Hazare to fast (Roundup) - Jun 16, 2011
- Not holding government to ransom with fasts, says Bhushan - Jun 17, 2011
- Government trying to mislead nation: Hazare (Lead) - Jun 22, 2011
- Fasting Anna ready for talks, but on his Lokpal (Evening Lead) - Aug 21, 2011
- Thousands join anti-graft crusade as Hazare begins fast (Roundup) - Apr 05, 2011
- Anna Hazare calls for nation-wide fast - Apr 01, 2011
- Chronology of an epochal fast - Aug 28, 2011
- Government should clarify stance on lokpal: Nitish Kumar - Jun 30, 2011
Tags: ambit, andhra pradesh chief, anna hazare, arvind kejriwal, central bureau of investigation, chandrababu, draft bill, independent agency, independent body, manmohan, manmohan singh, mr naidu, nageswara rao, parallel government, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, social activist, society representatives, tdp, telugu desam party