Trouble in the Lokpal Bill drafting committee escalated on Monday with civil society members boycotting its meeting citing ‘suspicious intent’ of the government which hit back, saying the Anna Hazare's team was raising ‘extraneous’ issues.
A tough-talking government asserted that the committee would continue its work to draft a strong Lokpal and finish it by June 30 for introduction in Monsoon Session of Parliament ‘whether or not someone’ comes for the meetings.
"Whether or not civil society members attend meetings, we will work to draft Lokpal Bill by June 30," Union Minister Kapil Sibal said.
The two sides were engaged in war of words as a result of which five civil society members in the committee boycotted the meeting, which was attended only by the five ministers representing the government, raising questions over the joint panel.
The trigger to the latest trouble was the police action to disrupt Ramdev's protest at Ramlila Maidan with Hazare, saying it reflected government's ‘suspicious intent’ and ‘fraud’ with regard to fighting corruption.
Hours before the meeting, joint committee co-chairman Shanti Bhushan also alleged that government practically wants to leave everyone out of Lokpal's ambit - Prime Minister, horse trading of MPs, middle and lower bureaucracy judiciary.
Hitting back, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, who is also a member of the committee, said: "Many issues they raise are very extraneous and have nothing to do with the proceedings of the committee." He particularly referred to Hazare raising to the issue of Ramlila Maidan incident and questioned how it was linked with drafting of the bill.
At the AICC briefing, Congress also attacked Hazare by dubbing him "mask" of BJP. This is the first formal attack by Congress on Hazare since his fast for a stronger Lokpal Bill.
Attacking BJP for its fast at Rajghat, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said Sushma Swaraj was dancing at the fast venue and wondered, "What is it they are celebrating. Is the celebration for putting forward Anna Hazare on the one hand and Ramdev on the other hand as their mask?"
Asked why the party is now attacking Hazare when Congress President Sonia Gandhi had personally written a letter to him saying she shared his concerns on corruption, Dwivedi said, "Those observing fast should also see who are sitting beside them.
"Will law be enacted in Parliament on the insistence of one or two persons. Anybody calling himself a monk, Satyagrahi or social reformer will stand up, hold a fast and expect that the entire country would accept his demands. What principle of democracy teaches this?"
