BJP says it wants strong Lokpal, parades Uttarakhand as example

With Team Anna criticising all political parties for not showing determination to have a strong Lokpal Bill, BJP on Saturday said it favoured a strong Lokpal which fulfills the people's wishes of having a transparent and accountable governance.

"BJP wants a very strong Lokpal which represents the people's wishes to have a transparent and accountable governance. It is not fair to say that all opposition parties do not want Lokpal," BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay told reporters here.

He said the party has proved its stand on Lokpal issue by passing a strong Lokayukta Bill in Uttarakhand.

"We want a strong Lokpal and we have proved it in Uttarakhand which became the first state in the country which passed a very strong Lokayukta Bill which was praised by Anna Hazare himself," Vijay said.

Team Anna had criticised various political parties for not showing any inclination for passing a strong Lokpal Bill in Parliament.

The all-party meeting, convened yesterday by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, decided to take up the legislation during the second half of Budget Session after evolving a consensus during the three-week inter-session break.