When asked about SP's opposition to the bill, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who was present at the press conference, said, "it is possible, one or two parties may have reservations on the bill. I don't think there is any party which says we shall not or should not have the Lokpal. No party has said so. They have reservations.
Rahul Gandhi said: "Our appeal to them is to keep these reservations aside. We want to cross the finish line and get it into a law. I think the country needs a Lokpal and we can have a Lokpal in this session if parties set aside their reservations".
Among the amendments made in the bill are delinking of the setting up of Lokayuktas in states, a highly controversial provision because of which many parties had opposed it in the House in December 2011.
The new bill also grants powers to the Lokpal to sanction prosecution against public servants.
Chidambaram said the government has made only two, three changes in the Select Committee report and the Minister of State for Personnel has moved official amendments to the original bill.
"There is nothing in the bill that erodes the authority of the Lokpal.... This bill acknowledges pre-eminence of Lokpal,.. It gives powers of an independent investigating agency...
"This bill balances the interests of the government, the interests of the investigative agency, the interests of the prosecuting agency and the government servants and it recognises the pre-eminence of the Lokpal," said Chidambaram.
Chidambaram rejected suggestions that Lokpal will become all powerful and encroach on the Prime Minister's power. "There is already a law which provides for appointment of CBI chief. There is a process. The Lokpal bill will not deal with appointment of CBI chief."
Gandhi did not answer a question whether his statement that there is a need to learn from AAP was admission of failure of Congress after Congress general secretary Ajay Maken asked reporters to confine their queries to Lokpal.
Law Minister Kapil Sibal said the CBI will work under the Lokpal and the authority will be "broadbased" and "inclusive".
