By IANS,
New Delhi : The central government is committed to passing a strong Lokpal (ombudsman) bill in parliament to curb corruption, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) told social activist Anna Hazare via a letter, sources said Monday.
The letter by Minister of State in the PMO V. Narayanasamy Jan 10 says that the government is taking action based on the recommendations made by the Rajya Sabha select committee last year.
The select committee was formed in 2011 to look into the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha members for the Lokpall bill.
“The government is committed to setting up a strong Lokpal to curb corruption and have the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, passed by parliament at the earliest,” Narayanasamy said in the letter released by Hazare’s team Monday.
The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha Dec 2011 and has been pending in the Rajya Sabha.
Hazare had agreed to break his 12-day long fast in Aug 2011 after parliament broadly agreed to his three key demands to battle corruption.
Hazare wanted the lower bureaucracy to be brought under the purview of the Lokpal, Lokayuktas in the states be brought under the Lokpal, and a citizen’s charter for government departments be worked out.
Listing efforts made by the government in these directions, Narayanasamy said in the letter: “The government has taken all steps necessary to give effect to all three recommendations communicated to you in Aug 2011.”