Reportedly, he is considering the convenience of the leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj, who is also member of the team, and that is why two days are being considered for…
Barely a month before possible ending of its tenure, the UPA government is trying to make amends and put in place the structure of the anti-corruption body Lokpal. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is planning to convene a meeting of the Lokpal Selection committee on April 27 or 28.
Reportedly, he is considering the convenience of the leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj, who is also member of the team, and that is why two days are being considered for the work. Rightnow, Swaraj is busy campaigning in her Lok Sabha constituency Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh.
Besides the PM and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sbaha, the Selection committee includes, the Speaker, the Chief Justice of India or his representative and a prominent jurist. The committee had met once in February during which Swaraj expressed her opposition to the nomination of jurist PP Rao as one of the members of the panel, alleging he has been a Congress loyalist.
The government is keen to complete the process of setting up the Lokpal before it demits office, failing which its seriousness on the issue would be questioned. If Swaraj has any objections, those would be recorded.
The process of setting up the anti-corruption watchdog following enactment of the law in January has run into rough weather as the government and the opposition have been locked in a confronation over its members.
