Working of the committee will not be affected by the controversies

NEW DELHI: On Friday Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and chairman of the Lokpal panel, said that the working of the committee will not be affected by the controversies and the government is looking forward to draft a strong and sound bill to fight corruption. In the face of unfailing public support for Hazare group, Congress leader Digvijay Singh came under the scrutiny of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Hazare is set to go on a countrywide campaign against corruption and the Lokpal Bill on April 29 from Kanpur.
Sonia Gandhi led National Advisory Council member N C Saxena extended his support to the Hazare group by asking them not to be deterred by mere allegations.Justice Hegde put the government in the dock by threatening to quit the Lokpal panel in response to Digvijay Singh’s allegation on his failure to arrest corruption in Karnataka.

Since some days, the Hazare group was bearing the heat of “smear campaign” and allegations heaped on its key members – father and son duo of Shanti Bhushan and Prashant, and even Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde by expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and also by Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh.

“Controversies have been raised about some members of the joint drafting committee on the Lokpal Bill. The government members on the committee are looking forward to work with Anna Hazare and his colleagues on the committee and to draft a strong and sound Lokpal bill in order to fight corruption,” said Mukherjee.

Also Jayanti Natrajan spokesperson of Congress added that there was no malice meant towards Justice Hegde, and these things do happen in public domain. Looking relieved, one of the campaign managers of “India Against Corruption” coalition, said, “We all are united and have decided not to get affected by smear campaigns.