Hegde hopes for a compromise on Lokpal bill

Former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde has struck a conciliatory note, saying he hoped for a compromise over the inclusion of the prime minister under the purview of the Lokpal bill.

Hegde, who, along with Hazare and others, helped draft the bill, however, expressed reservations over the government drafted Lokpal bill.

Hegde also felt that Anna Hazare should have deferred his decision to fast at least until a committee appointed by the National Advisory Council (NAC) to look into the Jan Lokpal bill placed its recommendations before the government.

A committee appointed by the NAC had gone through the Jan Lokpal Bill, clause by clause, for two days, reports quoted Hegde as saying.

He said the panel also met people from different walks of life to record their views on the Jan Lokpal bill being passed.

"The committee will place its findings before the government. The government should be given at least a fortnight to decide before we react," Hegde, who participated in the NAC consultation process in New Delhi, said.