13 December 2011

Lokpal: Govt may offer to include PM, Group C


A day after Anna Hazare's fast, the government as part of its counter Anna strategy on the Lokpal Bill is expected to offer to include the Prime Minister and Group C employees in its ambit at the all-party meet on Wednesday.
According to sources, the bill will be tabled in Parliament next week.
This indication has come after the Congress, isolated by the Opposition, received support from its allies.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet is also slated to take up judicial accountability bill, whistle blowers protection bill and citizens grievance redressal bill.
The Cabinet will also take up the feel-good Foods Security Bill, hoping to woo voters just as farm loan waiver did.
This will be followed by a meeting between the UPA and its allies. Unlike the Lokpal draft committee, this time the Congress wants to keep allies on board.
And on Wednesday there will be an all-party meet. Sources say that the final Lokpal will include Prime Minister and Group C.
The government is likely to propose that the Prime Minister could be brought under the ambit of Lokpal, however, with certain safeguards.
Further, on the issue of bringing CBI investigations under the ambit of Lokpal, the government may propose that though it could not be done, the Lokpal may however be kept in the know of the probe into corruption-related cases.
Though the Congress is upset with the Team Anna over their attack on party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, it is also aware that a strong opposition could nix the chance of easy passage of Lokpal Bill. And in that case, it may be difficult to stop the agitation by Anna Hazare on December 27.

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