Lokpal Bill: Possible to meet Anna Hazare's deadline, says government

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: Amid demands by Gandhian Anna Hazare to pass the Lok Pal Bill by August 15, government today said it was "anxious" for an early passage of the proposed legislation and the deadline set by the activist could be met only if "all cooperate".

"It is upto the political parties. If all of them agree for its introduction and passage, we welcome such a move...government is anxious for its early passage," Law Minister M Veerappa Moily told PTI in New Delhi.

Replying to a question, Moily, convenor of the 10-member Joint Committee for drafting the Bill, told reporters in Bangalore that "yes, it is possible to meet the August 15 deadline provided if all cooperate".

Moily reiterated that the process of drafting of the Bill was expected to be completed by June 30 and the bill introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament.

Congress agenda is to eradicate corruption and same was the resolve of Hazare, he said.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has also suggested a five-point agenda to check corruption, Moily said.

The committee, which has five representatives each from the government and the civil society, was formed after Hazare had gone on a four-day fast demanding the civil society's participation in drafting the Bill.

Moily, however, said if the bill is referred to a Standing Committee of Parliament, it would be upto the panel to clear it at the earliest and the government would have no say in it.

The monsoon session of Parliament is to start in the first week of July.