New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) There were three sticking points with the government including inclusion of lower bureaucracy in ambit of Lokpal, Team Hazare said Tuesday as they insisted on passage of anti-corruption legislation in the ongoing monsoon session of parliament.
Arvind Kejriwal, an associate of Anna Hazare, told the gathering at the Ramlila grounds that the government will convey its viewpoint on three of their demands including an institution of Lokayukta in every state and a citizens' charter for every government department.
Hazare is on a fast at Ramlila grounds which entered its eighth day Tuesday.
Kejriwal said the citizens' charter should specify responsibility of government officials along with period of delivery of service and penalise them with deduction of salary in case the work is not done in the stipulated period.
He also said the government had agreed to show to the civil society members the bill aimed at checking corruption in judiciary.
"There is no major objection on other issues. It is a major achievement," Kejriwal said.
Prashant Bhushan, another associate of Hazare, said the government will tell Wednesday morning if the Lokpal bill can be passed in this session.
He said the government did not show any major objection to inclusion of prime minister in Lokpal's ambit.
He said anti-corruption investigations will be conducted by the Lokpal and not Central Bureau of Investigation.
Bhushan, Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi took part in the first talks with the government since Hazare began his fast Aug 16 for a stong Lokpal bill.
Apart from Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Law Minister Salman Khurshid represented the government at the talks. Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit was also present.