All-party meet likely on Lokpal

LOKPAL-CONG
New Delhi, Jun 18 (PTI) With the issue of bringing
Indian Prime Minister within the ambit of the Lokpal remaining
a ticklish affair, Government is expected to soon call an
all-party meeting to seek views across the political spectrum.
This became clear on Saturday after a meeting of Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi
had with top party leaders favouring such parleys against the
backdrop of widening differences between the government and
the civil society representatives led by Anna Hazare on the
issue.
Grappling with the issue and other sensitive matters
like Telangana, the Congress Core Group headed by Gandhi met
on Saturday, the second meeting coming just after its two-hour
long deliberations Friday night. Meeting also discussed
Telangana problem.
The Hazare camp is pitching for inclusion of Prime
Minister as also higher judiciary in the proposed Lokpal bill
during meetings of the Joint Committee to draft the measure
which will now be meeting on June 20 and 21.
Government is prima facie opposed to the inclusion of
Prime Minister within the ambit of Lokpal but was open to the
idea of covering him once he demits office.
HRD Minister Sibal on Saturday said,"within the
government, we feel prima facie, the Prime Minister should not
be covered (under the Lokpal). But at the same time we want to
make sure that if he demits office, he should not be
exonerated from prosecution." PTI AMR
ASH