By IANS,
New Delhi : Aiming to evolve consensus on the controversial Lokpal bill which could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to call an all-party meeting of the upper house leaders Friday.
Sources said the meeting is subject to the house agreeing for a holiday Friday to celebrate the Gudi Padwa festival.
The bill could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha during an extended winter session last year as both the government and opposition accused each other of choreographing the chaos that marked the debate.
The opposition had even charged that the government ran away from voting on the key legislation.
The meeting is required as the United Progressive Alliance lacks majority in the upper house.
Sources said though the bill as approved in the Lok Sabha would be brought to the Rajya Sabha, the government may agree to some amendments suggested by the opposition to ensure a smooth passage of the legislation.
Significantly, UPA ally Trinamool Congress had supported the bill in the Lok Sabha but later opposed it in the upper house asking for deletion of a clause allowing setting up of Lokayuktas in states.
In order to build pressure on the government Anna Hazare has said he will sit on a day-long dharna Sunday.
The bill was introduced after he launched a major anti-corruption movement and fasted for 13 days last year.
The activist wants the Central Bureau of Investigation and lower bureaucracy to be brought under the anti-graft ombudsman.
The bill is expected to be brought to the upper house in the second half of the ongoing budget session from April 24-May 22 after the general budget is passed.