Government for strong Lokpal Bill that satisfies majority: Salman Khurshid

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Salman Khurshid, who is a member of the joint drafting committee on the Lokpal Bill, on Tuesday said efforts are on to make a "strong" legislation which can satisfy "majority" of the people.

"There is nothing which can satisfy the whole society but we are trying to come up with something that satisfies the majority of the people," he told reporters on the proposed Lokpal Bill.

Asked if the issues between the civil society and the Government have been sorted out, the Minister said, "We have no complaints. We are talking and want a good and strong Lokpal Bill to be presented before the public."

On whether the divergent views of the civil society members on the Bill would go to the Cabinet as a 'dissent note', Khurshid said, "No dissent note will be given. Wherever there is divergence, we have said the alternative formulation given by them will be sent to the Cabinet.

"One Bill, wherever there are common areas, we both will endorse it. Wherever there is difference of opinion, alternative opinion given by civil society will be given to the Cabinet," he said.

Explaining his earlier statement that he "knew only 'jonk' and not joke", the Minister said, "I had said I don't know joke but I know the 'jonk' (leech), which sucks blood. So we should not suck blood and put all our effort into making a good Lokpal Bill."

He said the Group of Ministers for media has been formed to clarify facts before the media on issues before it and "take media along with us as it has a big role to play in a democracy".