Govt reaches out to Opp to evolve consensus on Lokpal bill

Union Ministers Kapil Sibal, Salman Kurshid, Pawan Kumar Bansal and V Narayansamy met Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley in Parliament House to discuss the Lokpal Bill.

BJP is adamant on two main issues, namely, that the process of appointment and removal of the Lokpal be made more democratic and the CBI be kept out of government control.

Sources said government is coming around to the view that the state Lokayukta be kept out of the Lokpal Bill and a model law be passed by Parliament to enable states to create their own Lokayukta.

Opposition ruled states as well as West Bengal, where ally TMC is in power, are against the Lokayukta clause in the Bill.

These Union Ministers are also likely to meet CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury and leaders from other parties to discuss their views.

Other than the issues of appointment and removal of the ombudsman and keeping CBI out of government control, the Left wants foreign-funded NGOs to be brought under the Lokpal.

"We would like the Bill to come to Rajya Sabha only after there is a consensus. If the Bill is brought and then consensus is sought in the House, it would lead to certain problems," Law Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters. (MORE)