Drafting committee on Lokpal Bill likely to meet soon

New Delhi, Apr 10: The newly-constituted joint drafting committee comprising ministers and civil society activists to prepare the draft Lokpal Bill is likely to meet next week, sources informed on Sunday, Apr 10.

"The first meeting is slated for Apr 16. Of course it is a tentative schedule as we will have to ensure the availability of members," Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, who is also the Convenor of the panel.

When asked whether the government has blinked by issuing a gazette notification, he said the formation of the joint committee should not be seen as a victory for one party and defeat of the other.

"We need to work together for a national cause...there are no differences between the the government and the civil society. The common cause is to bring the Lokpal Bill," Moily said.

The Minister also maintained that the Congress party was never averse to mass movements as "after all Congress too is a result of mass movement." He said Congress President Sonia Gandhi has already given a "clarion call" to fight corruption during the Congress Plenary recently.

"After she spoke against corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had set up a Group of Ministers to deal with the issue of corruption...it was a quick response...nobody can suspect the intention of either the party or the government in dealing with the menace of corruption," he said.

PTI