BJP in favour of bringing PM under Lokpal: Advani

Senior BJP Leader L K Advani on Monday said that he and his party were of the opinion to include Prime Minister Manmohan Singh within the ambit of Lokpal bill. He said as a Leader of Opposition of Rajya Sabha in 1988 he had signed a dissent note with some other prominent MPs against a draft Lokpal bill prepared by the Rajiv Gandhi government. The dissent note clearly showed that the Chief Ministers were included within the ambit of Lokayukta's and hence it was of the strong opinion that even Prime Minister should be similarly brought within the ambit of Lokpal. The senior BJP Leader also stated it very clearly that 1989 and 1996 drafts of the Lokpal Bill had the Prime Minister within the ambit of the ombudsman. The Lokpal Bills presented by Atal Bihari Vajpayee also covered the Prime Minister within the ambit of Lokpal. The NDA had presented two Lokpal Bills in 1998 and 2001. Both had the PM within the purview of Lokpal. Advani referred to yesterday's all party meeting on the Lokpal issue convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said it was "unique" and "without precedent" as never before political parties been so unanimous in criticising the government for handling of the issue. Reported by       AR