Lok Pal panel divided over PM inclusion

The Parliamentary panel scrutinising the Lok Pal Bill was today sharply divided on party lines with several members, including those from BJP, disagreeing with various aspects like inclusion of the Prime Minister under the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog.

Chairman of Standing Committee on Personnel and Law and Justice Abhishek Singhvi said the report has been "adopted" by the panel but members from opposition parties contested this saying it can't be considered as adopted till the time their dissent notes are submitted.

The Committee, which held its last meeting on Lok Pal Bill, deliberated on various issues, particularly the inclusion of the office of the Prime Minister under Lok Pal, citizens' charter, public grievances mechanism and inclusion of entire bureaucracy under its ambit.

Members from BJP wanted inclusion of Prime Minister with some safeguards and citizens' charter to be a part of the Lok Pal institution. They also demanded the inclusion of the entire bureaucracy under the ambit of the ombudsman.

Samajwadi Party's main demand was to make citizen's charter to be a part of the Lok Pal.

Singhvi said the report to be tabled in Parliament will reflect have dissent notes of members who have divergent views on "some" issues.

Members from CPI-M and AIADMK are also learnt to have differed on various aspects of the Bill.