Constitutional status for Lok Pal a delaying tactic: Team Anna

Questioning Government's move to make the Lok Pal a Constitutional authority, Team Anna today said it was a tactic to delay or avoid its passage and "fool" the people.

"If government is serious on Lok Pal, it should first pass the Bill by Winter Session. Constitutional status is a sure means to delay or avoid the passage of the Bill," activist Kiran Bedi said.

Bedi was responding to Law Minister Salman Khurshid's revelation in an interview to PTI last night that government intends to make the Lok Pal a Constitutional authority which will be "more powerful" than the Election Commission".

For this purpose, he said a Constitutional amendment Bill is to be introduced in the Winter session of Parliament starting next month and the Lok Pal legislation is expected to be approved in the same session.

Bedi said the plans to make Lok Pal a Constitutional authority was like "putting the cart before the horse. It's like, no bread (but) keep waiting for the illusionary cake. Who are they fooling?"

The move for a Constitutional body is a follow-up to the proposal made by AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi at last month's Lok Sabha debate on Lok Pal.