Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi (SP)

New Delhi, Jun 20: Amidst attacks and counter attacks let loose by the government as well as the civil society led by Anna Hazare against each other, Lokpal Bill meeting is scheduled to take place today at New Delhi.

The demand of the civil society to bring the Prime Minister (PM) within the purview of Jan Lokpal law has almost been rejected by the government, but it is learnt that some of the Congress leaders have taken a stance that is in favour of bringing the PM into the Lokpal scope. An all party meeting is expected to take place early next month to discuss the bill in an attempt to arrive at a consensus.

Human resources minister, Kapil Sibal, in an interview with a national television channel, has said that the Prime Minister can be brought within the jurisdiction of the proposed Jan Lokpal bill, only after he demits his office. But Anna Hazare has ridiculed this statement, and stuck to his demand for bringing the PM within the ambit of the proposed bill. Another civil society member, Prashant Bhushan, has opined that there is no reason why PM should be excluded from the jurisdiction of Jan Lokpal bill.

Experts are of the opinion that there are very limited chances of the parties concerned arriving at a consensus on this point. In such a scenario, draft bill will be prepared on the agreed points.

Karnataka Lokayukta, Justice Santosh Hegde, who is  also a member representing the civil society in the said committee, is not attending the meeting due to his prior commitments at Mangalore.