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Santosh Hegde to stay on Lokpal committee

Last Updated 24 April 2011, 03:30 IST
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“Santosh Hegde will continue to be an integral part of the movement and its drafting, to see the Bill through,” former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said after civil society members met on Saturday to persuade the judge to continue in the panel. 
Earlier, Hegde had threatened to quit the panel after Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh questioned his success in checking corruption in Karnataka. Hegde said social activist Anna Hazare has requested him to continue in the panel since his expertise is required in drafting a strong bill.

Hegde told Deccan Herald “even if some people continue their allegation against members of the draft committee, the committee will not be disturbed, but will instead focus on its job.” Hegde said in future no member of the committee will resign, even if he or she faces allegations.

Sources said some members at the meeting suspected the involvement of the big corporate houses behind a smear campaign launched against civil society members of the drafting committee to derail the formation of the Lokpal Bill.

Speaking to media, Kiran Bedi said the meeting decided to write to the prime minister and the chief justice of India on Monday to conduct an independent enquiry into any allegations being made against any member of the civil society of the committee.
Asked about Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s demand for a Dalit member in the drafting panel, Arvind Kejriwal said “the government should have nominated a Dalit minister.”
Kejriwal said Anna Hazare has welcomed Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement that the working of the drafting committee will not be affected by controversies surrounding some members on the panel.

The panel has also decided to invite public comments on the proposed bill. The public can send their comments and suggestions to lokpalbillconsultation@gmail.com or by post to : A-119 First Floor, Kaushambi, Ghazuabad- 201010, UP.

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(Published 23 April 2011, 14:00 IST)

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