Will discuss draft Lokpal bill with political parties: Sibal

New Delhi, Jun 18: Government today (June18) said it will discuss the draft Lokpal Bill with political parties before sending it to the Union Cabinet for approval.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said the government will also seek the opinion of Chief Ministers on the draft prepared by the joint committee on Lokpal consisting of five ministers and as many members from the civil society.

"The government will seek the views of political parties on the draft bill before it goes to the Cabinet. Whatever agreements or disagreements on the draft are there will be presented before parties," he told Doordarshan.

Explaining the course the bill will go through after the Cabinet nod, Sibal said it will be introduced in Parliament, which could decide to send the bill to a Standing Committee.

He said the issue of tackling corruption was important and the government does not consider that the civil society did anything wrong by highlighting it.

While crediting the civil society for its efforts on an effective Lokpal, Sibal said it was not possible to accept all their demands.

Sibal, who is part of the government team in the joint drafting committee, sought to attack Gandhian Anna Hazare for not launching any agitation against Gujarat government where there is no institution of Lokayukta or Karnataka where Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is facing allegations of corruption.

"Why does Hazare not launch a fast in Gujarat where there is no Lokayukta. In Karnataka also, he should launch a fast," Sibal said.

PTI