NDA, Left to attend all-party meet on Lokpal today

Our Bureau Updated - July 02, 2011 at 11:25 PM.

Civil society activist Mr Anna Hazare addressing the mediaafter meeting the Congress President, Ms Soina Gandhi, ather residence in the Capital on Saturday. — Kamal Narang

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and Left parties have decided to attend the all-party meet on Sunday to discuss the draft Lokpal Bill.

Earlier in the day, social activist Mr Anna Hazare met the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and sought that the ‘right' draft should reach Parliament.

“We will respect whatever Parliament decides,” Mr Hazare said after the meeting. He, however, threatened to go on fast from August 16 if the ‘right' draft did not reach Parliament.

Senior BJP leader Mr L.K. Advani, while announcing on Saturday that his party would be part of the all-party meeting, reiterated that the country needed a strong Lokpal.

On behalf of the Left parties, the CPI (M) General-Secretary, Mr Prakash Karat, said they would attend the meeting but since the Government had not given its own draft so far, “we will give our views only when we get it. We have several related issues to raise.”

Published on July 2, 2011 17:42