AAP in 'damage control' mode, says Yadav on possible changes in Janlokpal draft

New Delhi: Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav on Wednesday said that ruling AAP is indulging in "damage control" exercise by hinting to accept Anna Hazare's suggestions on Janlokpal Bill, stating that he would "join celebrations" if the government passes the 2014 draft Bill in toto.

Yadav said the demands to amend the sections governing the appointment and removal of the Lokpal would be wrong to be attributed to Anna alone as these were the basic demands of the Janlokpal movement.

"Now that they have been caught red handed in an act of daylight robbery they need a fig leaf. So they are discovering certain things by going to Anna which we have been saying. It's a damage control exercise because they thought they would get away," Yadav told PTI here.

Yadav, who was expelled from AAP for "anti-party activites", said the argument being put by AAP not to include the provision of eminent persons in the selection panel was a "red herring".

"What the Supreme Court said during the NJAC debate was that you cannot leave the category vague by saying eminent person but should put certain criteria. And the argument is completely rubbish as the word eminent persons was not used in the 2014 Bill or the IAC draft," he said.

He said if the government adopts the 2014 draft, Swaraj Abhiyan, a forum launched by him and Prashant Bhushan, would come to its defence and launch agitation against the Centre if obstacles are put.

"We don't know what the amendments are. But if they go back to 2014 Bill, even with its flaws, we will be completely supporting the government. We accept that Bill in toto and would join in celebrations," he said.

The 2014 Bill had provisions to act against officials of the MCD, DDA, Delhi Police which Swaraj Abhiyan "accepts" but bringing Union Ministries under its ambit would be "ridiculous", Yadav said, adding "someone should have a sense of the Constitution".

Under fire for tabling a "diluted" Bill, the Delhi government is likely to amend the draft Janlokpal legislation and will introduce two changes in the appointment and removal clauses as per Anna's suggestions.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that he will "surely" effect the changes proposed by the veteran social actvist during a meeting with AAP leaders Kumar Vishwas and Sanjay Singh at Ralegan Siddhi yesterday.

On a case against rebel AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar, who have sided with Swaraj Abhiyan, being referred to the privilege committee of the Delhi Assembly, Yadav said, "This is astonishing as you know he (Pushkar) is the one who lodged a complaint and has been in the receiving end of threats and abuses."