Drafting Committee members boycott Lok Pal meeting

Civil society activists led by Anna Hazare today boycotted the meeting of the joint drafting committee on Lok Pal Bill saying government's intentions raised serious doubts about having a strong anti-corruption watchdog and protesting against the police crackdown on Ramdev.

The activists have also sought rescheduling of the next meeting of the JDC on June 10 to some other date because of some prior engagements of Hazare.

After a meeting of the activists, Prashant Bhushan, one of the non-official members wrote a letter to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Chairman of JDC, saying the government desires to practically leave everyone out of Lok Pal's ambit-- Prime Minister, horse trading of MPs, middle and lower bureaucracy judiciary.

He said there was divergence even on the vision of Lokpal and if the government's stand is accepted, Lok Pal would be left to investigate the corruption of only 300-odd officers and ministers.

"This is government's vision for Lok Pal," the letter said.