New Delhi: A Union minister on Friday asked Anna Hazare to have "patience" after his threat to fill up jails if the government does not bring a strong Lokpal Bill in the current session, saying the UPA was committed to the measure. "He (Hazare) should have patience. He has given his point of view. It is not the only view. If is for the government to consider all the views," Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy told reporters.
He said the government and the Prime Minister are committed to bring the Lokpal Bill. Hazare had yesterday announced a new agitation of filling up jails (jail bharo) from January 1 if Parliament does not pass a strong Lokpal law.
Narayanasamy said before bringing official amendments to the Bill, government is going through the recommendations of the Parliamentary committee which scrutinised the bill and views expressed by various political parties and organisations to ensure that it is "acceptable to all". He said while drafting the amendments, the government has to ensure that they are legally sound and the bill has all the in-built mechanisms to deal with various situations.
The draft legislation is expected to be considered by the Union Cabinet on Monday after the Prime Minister returns from Moscow on Saturday. It could then be tabled in Parliament on December 20 or 21.
PTI