Anna welcomes release of CDs of Lokpal Bill drafting committee meets

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Monday welcomed the government's decision to release the audio recordings of the meetings between his team and the government in the run-up to drafting of the Lokpal bill.

''The audio recording had not been made public until now, so the government has decided to make it public,'' said Hazare. ''This is a good move. There should always be transparency, because it increases the faith of the public.'' Civil society activists had earlier demanded video recordings of the seven meetings held between the government and their representatives.

RTI activist Subhas Agrawal, who had sought the recordings, was informed by the government that the audio recordings of the minutes of the joint drafting committee of the Lokpal bill would be available to him. He was told to deposit Rs450 for copies of nine CDs.

Agarwal had filed an RTI application in June, seeking the recordings of the deliberations of the joint drafting committee.

The committee comprised five members from Team Anna's side and five cabinet ministers. However, the meetings failed to resolve major issues leading to a breakdown of communications between the two sides. Anna Hazare then went on an indefinite hunger strike from August 16 and called it off only after the government agreed to a joint resolution by both houses of parliament on the importance of passing the Lokpal bill.

The department of personnel and training, which is now releasing the CDs, had earlier sought the approval of the law ministry to disclose the recordings.