Govt prepares for U-turn on Lokpal

Centre likely to agree on inclusion of PMO; extended winter session on the cards

This follows the united stance by the opposition parties and Team Anna on Sunday. UPA managers said they are considering several of their demands, including bringing the CBI under Lokpal.

Informed sources said the government was now keen to agree for inclusion of the Prime Minister’s Office with certain conditions which exclude internal and external security issues and defence matters connected to the position.

It, however, remains to be seen how far the government is inclined to include the CBI. So far, the government is not inclined for inclusion of the probe agency in anti-corruption omudsman.

Meetings

All the issues will come up for discussion at the meeting of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partners convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 13, which will be followed by the all-party meeting the next day which Singh would chair.

This may mean that the winter session of Parliament, scheduled to close on December 21, may be extended for two days for the safe passage of the Lokpal Bill. Government sources is ruling out the possibility for now.

Several opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist, on Sunday shared stage with Hazare and demanded a strong Lokpal bill.

Anna creating anarchy: Cong MP

Congress MP in Rajya Sabha Bhalchandra Mungetakar On Monday accused Anna Hazare of creating anarchy and said the social activist is showing dictatorial and fascist tendencies, DHNS reports from New Delhi.

Mungetakar said Hazare will create a situation akin to anarchy if the Lokpal bill is not passed in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, he said. He said his methods to get the bill enacted disregarding its practicability showed his lack of understanding and contempt for Parliament. He said Hazare’s “self-chosen team of five to represent the entire civil society is nothing but his autocratic attitude.”