Trying for a consensus on Lokayukta: Khurshid

| 10-May 11:38 AM

New Delhi: Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Thursday said that the government was trying to build a consensus on Lokayukta. He also said that Team Anna is against the removal of Lokayukta clause. "We are trying to evolve a consensus. Team Anna is against the removal of Lokayukta clause but some of leaders want it. So we need to evolve a consensus," he said.

Earlier, the reports said that the government may drop the clause on setting up of a Lokayukta in states in the Lokpal Bill to bring some Opposition parties and allies like Trinamool Congress on board.

The talk is that heeding to demands from Opposition parties and allies, the clause on setting up a Lokayukta in the states may be removed before it comes up before the Rajya Sabha, possibly next week.

A minister, however, said that discussions are still on with the political parties concerned to thrash out the differences.

Sources said there are three-four sticking points in the much-debated Lokpal Bill, which seeks to create an anti-corruption watchdog, and the government is trying to build a consensus on these issues.

In December 2011, the Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha with certain amendments.

The government had failed to get a constitutional amendment cleared which sought to give constitutional status to the ombudsman.

It was then moved to the Rajya Sabha for consideration. Since the debate remained inconclusive, government is likely to move the Bill with amendments which it had agreed to during interactions with political parties over the past few months.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had convened an all-party meeting to resolve the differences over the Lokpal Bill.

Once the Bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha with amendments, it will have to be sent back to the Lok Sabha for approval.

(With additional inputs from PTI)

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