Team Anna on Wednesday met a number of top political leaders to convey its views on the Lokpal Bill ahead of an all-party meeting the government intends to hold on the issue.
Team Anna called on CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh and Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav. They are likely to call on Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday and the BJP leaders L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley on Friday.
Mr. Hazare said he would take up with Ms. Gandhi the opposition to the inclusion of Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal by some Union Ministers when Manmohan Singh himself favoured it.
“An honest PM”
Responding to the Prime Minster's remarks at a meeting with a group of editors, Mr. Hazare said the Dr. Singh was an honest person. He hoped the Union Cabinet would take a decision in the interest of the country.
Mr. Hazare said the provisions of the Jan Lokpal Bill would be explained even to religious leaders.
Those who called on Mr. Karat included, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, who claimed that the CPI(M) general secretary favoured an inclusive Lokpal with Prime Minister and the entire bureaucracy under it. She said Mr. Karat was also for the merger of the anti-corruption wing of the CBI with the Lokpal.
Mr. Ajit Singh said he, by and large, supported the provisions of the Team Anna draft. The party's national executive would take a decision on the issue.
