Hazare defiant on Lokpal committee; asks Kapil Sibal to quit

Published: Monday, April 11, 2011, 14:56 [IST]

New Delhi, Apr 11: After a five-day long agitation all over the country, the "aam admi" led by Anna Hazare succeeded to nail down the government. The UPA government approved demands made by Hazare and his followers and set up the 10 member joint committee to draft the anti-corruption "Lokpal Bill." (What is Lokpal Bill?)

The joint committee members have not met each other yet officially, but has already engaged in a spat as Hazare asked telecom minister Kapil Sibal to resign from the panel.

Hazare, while talking to the media personalities, stated, "If he (Kapil Sibal) does not have faith on the joint committee, he should resign without any delay."

Hazare's attack came on Sibal as the telecom minister allegedly expressed doubts on the committee's function. Though Sibal, later, said that he was "misquoted".

It seems that 72-year-old Hazare is keen to defend the joint committee and start working on "Lokapl Bill." Hazare ruled out Baba Ramdev's questions on the committee members. (Read: Lokpal: Anna Hazare rules out Ramdev's doubts on 'best team')

The 10 member joint committee comprises 5 representatives from the government side and 5 members from civil society.

Representatives of civil society: