Govt to hold first meeting of Lokpal panel this week

  “We will hold the first meeting of the committee most probably on April 16. We need to work out a tight agenda. Next session, we will introduce the bill,” Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said.

Co-chairman of the joint committee and former law minister Shanti Bhushan as well as activist Swami Agnivesh hailed the government’s decision for issuing the notification on the formation of the panel to draft the bill. “I don’t see any conflict at all. The government acted positively in accepting the demand of the people, I have no doubt we will play a constructive role in bringing about a very strong anti-corruption law,” Bhushan said.
Agnivesh also appreciated the government's act saying that “we got more than what we expected”.

Senior advocate Bhushan said the bill would be a stronger tool to deal with corruption.
“We have tried to draft a bill. We may make it stronger and more effective. We welcome any effort (to improve it). Its independent character and authority to investigate any kind of corruption cannot be diluted. It is the desire of the people of India,” he said.

Moily said the government would work unitedly and invite suggestions  from all quarters . “We will work together. It is  for the nation,” he said. “It is not final, we will get the idea from everywhere. We are going to put up the matter on our website. Whenever issues came up, the government at no point of time was hesitant to take ideas from activists,” he said.