New Delhi: As veteran anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare readies for his day-long fast tomorrow in Delhi in protest against the parliamentary panel's report on the Lokpal Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called for an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue again.
But prior to that, the Cabinet will meet on Tuesday followed by a meeting of the government's allies on the contentious issue.
The all-party meeting intends to ascertain the views of all political parties before the cabinet takes a final view on the Standing Committee's recommendations on the Lokpal Bill. The draft report prepared by the committee will be tabled in the Parliament next week for discussion and consideration.
The parliamentary panel's report, that was made public on Friday, has majorly upset Mr Hazare and his team of activists what with some key demands of theirs not finding a place in the recommendations. These include the inclusion of the Prime Minister, lower bureaucracy and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the anti-graft ombudsman. While the draft report remains non-committal on the PM's issue, leaving it instead for the Parliament to decide, it does not favour junior bureaucrats being answerable to the nine-member Lokpal. Furthermore, the 74-year-old activist is also unhappy about the exclusion of the CBI from the Lokpal's purview in the draft report. The government as well as the investigating agency is opposed to his demand, contending that it will affect the autonomy of the institution.
The report immediately prompted strong criticism from Mr Hazare who accused the government today of "fooling the entire nation". In addition to the one-day fast due to be held at the Jantar Mantar tomorrow, the septuagenarian has declared to go on a prolonged fast from December 27 in his fight for a strong Lokpal Bill.
But prior to that, the Cabinet will meet on Tuesday followed by a meeting of the government's allies on the contentious issue.
The all-party meeting intends to ascertain the views of all political parties before the cabinet takes a final view on the Standing Committee's recommendations on the Lokpal Bill. The draft report prepared by the committee will be tabled in the Parliament next week for discussion and consideration.
The parliamentary panel's report, that was made public on Friday, has majorly upset Mr Hazare and his team of activists what with some key demands of theirs not finding a place in the recommendations. These include the inclusion of the Prime Minister, lower bureaucracy and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the anti-graft ombudsman. While the draft report remains non-committal on the PM's issue, leaving it instead for the Parliament to decide, it does not favour junior bureaucrats being answerable to the nine-member Lokpal. Furthermore, the 74-year-old activist is also unhappy about the exclusion of the CBI from the Lokpal's purview in the draft report. The government as well as the investigating agency is opposed to his demand, contending that it will affect the autonomy of the institution.
The report immediately prompted strong criticism from Mr Hazare who accused the government today of "fooling the entire nation". In addition to the one-day fast due to be held at the Jantar Mantar tomorrow, the septuagenarian has declared to go on a prolonged fast from December 27 in his fight for a strong Lokpal Bill.
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