News 24 Desk
New Delhi: There is no question of bringing Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal, though government has no issue if the ex-prime minister comes under Lokpal ambit once he/she demits office, says Union Minister Salman Khurshid in an exclusive interview with Ms .Anurradha Prasad for her weekly show `Aamne-Samne`. It would be aired on News 24 at 10 PM on Sunday (June 19).
Dignity personified Salman Khurshid made it clear that there are three areas which are proving to be roadblock in drafting the Lokpal bill. A. Bringing prime minister in the ambit of Lokpal. B. Judges can also be prosecuted by Lokpal. C.All the government employees should come under the purview of Lokpal
He said that despite irresponsible utterances by members of team Anna, “ they would not be provoked come what may. We are committed to finalise the draft of Lokpal bill by June 30 so that it can be presented before cabinet. Team Anna is free to make changes and amendments in it in parliament.”
He made it clear that there are three areas which are proving to be roadblock in drafting the Lokpal bill. A. Bringing prime minister in the ambit of Lokpal. B. Judges can also be prosecuted by Lokpal.3.All the government employees should come under the purview of Lokpal.
`A message has gone across the country that Government is bowing before the likes of Anna and Baba ?` “ Not at all. We are open for debate and discussion. It is our wish that we all work together in order to give effective Lokpal bill to nation. They are behaving like actors and they should better go to Mumbai,” felt Salman Khurshid, who is part of the committee of government that is engaged in debate with Civil Society members to finalize the draft of Lokpal bill.
`Do you think team Anna is impractical in their approach ?` Without any pause, he said that impractical is rather mild word for them. “ I think they are unlawful and unconstitutional. They believe that we must settle for a draft which they like. That is unacceptable,” Salman Khurshid said without mincing words.
`How can you justify when some Congress leaders also attack members of team Anna below the belt ? ` Without justifying the very sharp comments made by the likes of Digvijay Singh and Manish Tiwari on team Anna, Salman Khurshid said, “ Naturally, Congress leaders would react when they would see that their government is targeted without any reason. Team Anna are calling us corrupts and would be send to jail once Lokpal bill become a law. Despite so much provocations, we in government did not reacted in a same vain.”
Salman Khurshid dismissed the charge of Civil society member Arvind Kejriwal that government`s attitude towards them is very arrogant. “ This is far from truth. However,this is not possible that we accept all their views in paras and verses. While we know the ground realities,they are hovering on some other plant.”
Reacting to no-hold bared attack by both Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal after their last meeting with the government on the issue of draft of Lokpal, Salman Khurshid said, “ It is like a bad worker quarrel with his tools. If you fail to put your point of view in right perspective, you start making wild allegations. Nevertheless, I still feel that Santosh Hegde (part of team Anna) is a very mature person. He was very good judge as well.”
Replying to a question ` if government can talk and accept the recommendations of National Advisory Council(NAC),why it can not accept the views of team Anna, Salman Khurshid made it clear, “ This is not true. NAC do not blame us. NAC recommended us on Food Security Bill. But,civil society members are trying hard so we accept their draft on Lokpal bill. That is not possible. We have to follow constitution.”