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Team Anna tones down belligerence New Delhi, June 20 While maintaining that the differences persist and even some new areas of divergence emerged. Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan speaking for Anna Hazare admitted that these were concerning bringing the Prime Minister under the Lokpal and the composition of selection committee to appoint the Lokpal. Giving his version HRD Minister Kapil Sibal stated that they have decided to exchange their respective drafts tomorrow and incorporate divergent points also alongside in the single draft to be sent to the Cabinet. Sibal, of course, claimed that there was consensus on "80-85 per cent" of the issues. According to him, "Both sides feel we should move towards a consensus. In areas of divergence, we will formulate a draft in which those areas will be spelt out so that when the matter goes to the political parties who are to be consulted in July, areas of divergence of opinion and the alternatives are put before political leaders and political parties,” he said.At today’s meeting Anna’s team displayed far more understanding, said a source adding that when the ministers tried reasoning them about the sensitiveness of the Prime Minister’s position, they said, “Yes we understand your political compulsions that you have to consult other political parties.” Anna has been pressing to either disband the CBI and the CVC or bring them under the Lokpal. Chidambaram told them how the CBI doesn’t just investigate corruption cases. It also probes cases like Arushi and Satyam and several crime cases. Shanti Bhushan pressed for life imprisonment and harsher penalty for corruption and had to be reasoned that the proposed Lokpal provisions provide for confiscating all the properties of accused and their close relatives. On selection committee, Prashant Bhushan alleged that, “According to government version, the appointment committee is filled with politicians and government officials. Our bill has provision for an independent, broad-based committee like the Chief Election Commissioner.” The government version proposes that the selection committee should comprise Prime Minister, Speaker, Leaders of both the Houses of Parliament, Leaders of Opposition of both the Houses, Lok Sabha Speaker, Home Minister, Cabinet Secretary, a Supreme Court Judge and a High Court Chief Justice, Kejriwal said. Chidambaram wondered how the CAG, the CEC and such other officials who draw their salary from the government could overnight become independent, to which Kejriwal replied that “Once an officer becomes CAG or CEC he becomes independent. Shanti Bhushan also sought in the Bill a proviso to set aside a certain percentage of the annual budget to which Salman Khursheed told them “Don’t ask for the Moon right away. Look at the foundation now. First build the first floor and then extend it into a skyscraper. Finally Sibal said: “It is a major step forward. On the basis of this, a strong Lokpal Bill can be drafted and sent to Cabinet so that it can be introduced in Parliament in the monsoon session,” he said. Area of conflict: Selection committee
Prashant Bhushan alleged that, “According to government version, the appointment committee is filled with politicians and government officials. Our bill has provision for an independent, broad-based committee like the Chief Election Commissioner.” The government version proposes that the selection committee should comprise Prime Minister, Speaker, Leaders of both Houses of Parliament, Leaders of Opposition of both Houses, Lok Sabha Speaker, Home Minister, Cabinet Secretary, a Supreme Court judge and a High Court Chief Justice.
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