Hegde says Govt 'preventing' drafting of Lokpal bill

Bangalore, Jun 8: Karnataka Lokayukta and one of the members of the Joint Committee for drafting Jan Lokpal bill, Justice Santosh Hegde, today (June 8) alleged that the Government was ''preventing'' the drafting of a strong anti-corruption Bill.

Asked about civil rights activist Anna Hazare's statement that his fight was not against the government, but against the system, Justice Hegde said on the sidelines of a function here that now, "there has to be a fight against the Government itself" as it was "preventing" drafting of the Bill.

"I don't know in what context Anna Hazare has made that statement. Unfortunately, who is preventing the drafting committee.... it is the Government," he said.

He said the Jan Lokpal bill drafting committee would meet on June 15 and 16 to discuss all issues related to the Bill.

Following the forceful eviction of Baba Ramdev and his supporters earlier this week from an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Ramlila ground, Justice Hegde had said the police action was a violation of "fundamental rights of citizens" and said it "brought back memories" of the Emergency.

PTI