Santosh Hegde to attend Lokpal meeting on June 21

In a bid to play down reports of a rift in the Lokpal drafting committee, Karnataka lok ayukta (ombudsman) N Santosh Hegde said he would attend the Lokpal meeting on June 21.

Hegde said yesterday that he will would attend further meetings of the Lokpal bill draft panel as he has prior commitments.

Hegde, who yesterday urged social  activist Anna Hazare to tour the country and interact with people instead of fasting, said he would support Hazare's fast for  a strong anti-graft law.

Hegde, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, is one of the five civil society members on the 10-member panel that includes five central cabinet ministers.