By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said the government will introduce the Lokpal Bill in parliament during the monsoon session, after the government and the civil society reached a consensus over formation of a joint draft committee for the bill.
Expressing happiness that the government and representatives of the civil society have reached an agreement to combat corruption, Manmohan Singh said: “The fact that civil society and government have joined hands to evolve a consensus to move this historic legislation augurs well for our democracy. I am pleased that Anna Hazareji has agreed to give up his fast.”
“This is a scourge that confronts all of us. The government intends to introduce the Lokpal Bill in parliament during the monsoon session,” he said in a statement.
The prime minister said that the interaction between the government and representatives of social reformer Anna Hazare was productive.
“I hope that the process of preparing this legislation will move forward in a constructive mode so that after consultation with a wide spectrum of stake holders, the legislation is placed before the cabinet for introduction during the monsoon session,” he added.
Hazare is to end his four-day-old fast demanding for a stringent anti-graft law Saturday. The government and civil society reached a consensus Friday night after four rounds of discussion.