By IANS,
New Delhi: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Monday urged the government to ready a draft of the Lokpal legislation to enable the party to give its views.
In a letter to Finance Minister and Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said the issues were not confined to the six questions on the Lokpal bill posed to political parties.
“Our Party has definite views on the nature and scope of the Lokpal authority to be set up,” the letter said.
“The issues that need to be considered are not necessarily confined to the six questions which you have posed to be answered in ‘yes’ or ‘no’ terms.
“Therefore, we suggest that the government prepare a draft of the Lokpal legislation on which we will be able to give our views.
“You can seek our views before it is presented to parliament. If that is not possible, then we shall certainly express our views on the draft through the parliamentary procedures.”
The government has sought the views of political parties on the proposed Lokpal bill to fight corruption in high places amid talks with civil society representatives including Gandhian Anna Hazare.