Manmohan Singh keen PMO is brought under Lokpal ambit: Pawan Kumar Bansal

CHANDIGARH: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is keen that the office of the PM is included under the purview of Lokpal, Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said here today.

"The Prime Minister is keen that his office should be included under the purview of Lokapal," he told reporters.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh upholds principles of integrity in public life.

Referring to the report of Parliament's Standing Committee on Lokpal bill, he said all concerns would be addressed. "Change in bill will be done in a harmonious manner," he said.

On protests by some parties on Lokpal bill, he said, "They just want to show they are against corruption. Their (political parties) double standards are not acceptable."

He also said there was need to bring amendments in the existing laws on corruption.

Referring to BJP steps against Lokpal, he said that it was politically motivated. " Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi wants that the Lokpal should get constitutional status," he said.

Bansal said the BJP had failed to understand the Lokpal bill. "I feel sorry that socialist Anna Hazare is opposed to the present form of Lokpal bill...Anna must come forward with his suggestions...Parliament is not irrelevant," he said.

"Wait for three to four days for an all party meeting's consensus on Lokpal bill," he said, adding all political parties were committed to fight corruption.

He said there were over 30 lakh government employees under class D service. "If these employees are put under Lokpal it will become difficult to give a judgement," he said.

On judiciary to be part of Lokpal, he said, "Wait for the amendment to come in Lokpal."

He said the Centre was committed to pass the Lokpal bill in this session itself.

On Anna's fast in Delhi, he said if he was only fighting against corruption, he was welcome.

He lashed out at the BJP for allegedly denigrating the prime minister's office. "I pity on BJP," he added.