New Delhi, Nov 1: The government today wondered why Team Anna keeps on issuing warnings when the Centre has repeatedly announced its commitment to bring a strong Lokpal Bill at the earliest.
“This has been said by Anna and his associates many times. Before campaigning against Congress in Hisar also, they had said that they would compel the government to bring Lokpal bill... I do not know why they are making such statements when there is no need to compel the government for it,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters here.
She was responding to questions on Hazare's letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today in which he threatened to resume his fast on the last day of Parliament's Winter Session if the government fails to get a strong Jan Lokpal Bill passed by then.
“A number of Cabinet ministers and the Prime Minister himself has said that we all want to a powerful Lokpal Bill. Standing Committee examining is also speeding up its work in this direction by holding extra sittings.
“There is no indication that there will be any delay in bringing the bill. When the government has reiterated its commitment to the bill so many times, I fail to understand what is the reason for their issuing warnings frequently,” Soni said.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the 74-year-old activist said he did not find it right that responsible people in government and Congress were making remarks that creates doubts about the passage of the bill. The Winter Session of Parliament will begin on November 22 and end on December 23.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid asked: “Why is this disquiet? I don't see any justification”.
