Civil society’s Lokpal Bill draft representative of aspirations of large sections: Kiran Bedi
28 Jun 2011
According to activist Kiran Bedi, civil society's draft of Lokpal bill represented the aspirations of a large cross section of people and it was now up to the "wisdom and foresight" of parliament to decide on how it wished to provide for the future of this country.
She added that the objective of the bill had been to meet the prevailing epidemic of corruption and bribery in the country.
She said that, as one who had been closely associated with Team Anna, she could say that the civil society draft was representative of the aspirations of a large cross section of Indians. She added that there could be, of course, other voices too.
Regarding HRD minister Kapil Sibal's remarks that engaging with Anna Hazare's team in drafting of the Lokpal bill would not set a precedent, she said it was not clear whose view it was.
Sibal, one of the key members of the joint committee for drafting the Lokpal Bill, said the exercise of engaging civil society in drafting law would not happen in future.
Sibal said in an interview that he would not say it would be a precedent.
He added that in the given situation the government was in, it was a decision that the government took with open eyes and he did not consider it to be a precedent.
He said the government was in a particular situation.
