Government considering all Lokpal drafts: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called for a broader consensus on Lokpal bill so that all points of views are considered to create a strong institution of the Lokpal.

Addressing an all-party meeting in New Delhi today, he said the government's position was in favour of a strong and effective Lokpal Bill all through and that it would consider all points of view, including the Jan Lokpal bill drafted by the civil society members of the joint drafting committee.

He said the matter was with the standing committee and the committee was entitled to consider not only the Lokpal bill introduced by the government but the Jan Lokpal bill and other versions like those prepared by Rajya Sabha member Aruna Roy as well.

He also said he was concerned about the failing health of Anna Hazare.

"I felt that I should take a personal initiative to appeal to Shri Anna Hazareji to end his fast so that we may work together in a spirit of cooperative engagement to bring into existence a strong Lokpal," he said.  

The prime minister said he wrote to Anna Hazare pleading to end his fast and reiterating the government's intention to pass the best possible Lokpal legislation with inputs from civil society and on the basis of the broadest possible consensus.