Anna Hazare knocks on more netas' doors

Team Anna on Thursday continued meeting politicians in a bid to clarify differences between their draft, Jan Lokpal Bill (JLB), and the government’s Lokpal Bill as they met Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, leaders of Communist Party of India (CPI) and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav. The activists would now meet BJP leaders on Friday to give a detailed presentation.

While indicating his willingness to set up the Lokayukta in Bihar, Nitish Kumar asked the government for its view on Lokpal. Meanwhile, CPI warned the government that it could face “trouble” if it comes up with a bogus draft in parliament.

Led by Anna Hazare, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia, the team met Kumar in the morning followed by a meeting with CPI’s general secretary AB Bardhan, national secretary D Raja and party leader Atul Kumar Anjan in the afternoon. In the evening, they met RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

On the Thursday meeting, Bedi tweeted: “Today Team JLB (Anna) met Nitish Kumar Bardhan (CPI) L Yadav. Explaining key diff(erence) between Govt (Government’s Lokpal Bill) and JLB. It was Helpful indeed.”

On the meeting with Kumar, she further tweeted: “He not only supports d (the) key issues but also wants an effective Lokayukt(a) in Bihar. This is leadership... Nitish Kumar also said UPA Govt is already engaging with civil society thru (through) NAC but in a Lab conditions. IAC movement is in open format.”

After the meeting Kumar questioned the Centre’s decision of sending two drafts of the Lokpal Bill for consideration and demanded that the government be clear before seeking views of states on the proposed legislation.

“Let the government tell us what its view is. Why two drafts are being sent to states for views. First, the government should make its stand clear on what it wants. Then only we can comment on it,” the Bihar CM said.

When asked if they would attend the all-party meeting on Lokpal Bill on July 3, he said he would first discuss with other party leaders on the issue.

“There was a discussion with Hazare and others on the issue of setting up Lokayukta in states. We had a discussion on the matter. I will have a discussion within my party (Janata Dal-United) and with allies (Bharatiya Janata Party) on the matter. I will also invite Hazare and others to Patna to discuss the issue,” he added.
Hazare commended Kumar on the steps taken in checking corruption in Bihar.

CPI leader AB Bardhan after the meeting said his party wants an “effective law which has teeth to fight corruption” and that the Left parties and others supporting it will discuss the issue.
“Which draft will be introduced (in Parliament), we don’t know. If the government comes up with a bogus draft, then there will be trouble,” Bardhan said.