By IANS,
New Delhi : Terming the meeting between the government and civil society representatives on the proposed Lokpal bill a “major breakthrough”, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Monday said there has been a “broad consensus” between the two sides.
“We had a meeting of three hours, between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and had full-fledged discussions on a range of issues. There was a frank exchange of views and there has been a broad consensus,” Sibal told reporters after the seventh meeting between the two sides.
“This has been a major breakthrough,” he added.
Saying that the atmosphere of the meeting was “non-acrimonious”, Sibal added: “We were clear about the diversions and disagreements. Almost on 80-85 percent clauses of the bill, there is agreement.”
Another meeting is scheduled Tuesday. There are five representatives each from the government and the civil society in the committee that was set up in April to frame a comprehensive Lokpal bill to fight corruption in high places.