Lokpal Bill: Team Anna questions Standing Committee's credibility

NEW DELHI: Two days ahead of Anna Hazare's fast for a strong Lokpal Bill, his team today stepped up attack on government questioning the "credibility" of the Standing Committee report on the issue saying it has only the support of 12 members.

Team Anna also said they will oppose "tooth and nail" the Standing Committee proposals on the ombudsman which they claimed is taking the anti-corruption systems in the country two steps backward.

"Standing Committee had 30 members. Two never attended. Sixteen dissented. So this report is supported by balance 12. Seven are from Congress, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Amar Singh and rest from Mayawati's BSP.

"So much for credibility of this report," prominent Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said.

Claiming that the committee recommendations, if implemented, would increase corruption and disintegrate CBI's functioning, Kejriwal said, "This report takes our anti-corruption systems two steps back. We must oppose this report tooth and nail".

His comments came even as Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Abishek Singhvi sought to allay fears that making Lokpal a constitutional body would delay its passage and maintained that the process can be completed in a single day.

Hazare will go on a one-day fast on Sunday in protest against the Standing Committee proposals, which excludes his key demands like bringing lower bureaucracy under the ambit of the ombudsman besides provisions for Citizen's Charter.

Activist Kiran Bedi also echoed Kejriwal and said, "damage is done by keeping CBI's investigation powers out of Lokpal- whole reason for the Lokpal? Will Parliament undo?"