CWC turns itself into a Congress War Council

The Congress Working Committee on Friday threw its weight behind the UPA government for a tough line against the “pressure tactics” of civil society on the controversial Lokpal Bill.

As the civil society members led by Gandhian Anna Hazare unleashed a no-holds barred campaign against the UPA government for lacking the political will to create a strong Lokpal, meeting key opposition figures and briefing them on the two drafts, virtually all members of the CWC who participated in the discussion called for a tough line against the unelected self-styled people’s representatives.

“Such pressure tactics disrupt the parliamentary system,” said Cogress chief spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi after the meeting chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. PM Manmohan Singh also attended. Two government members in the committee — Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram — said the party wholeheartedly backed the government.

Meanwhile, civil society activists have started meeting leaders of different political parties to brief them on the Jan Lokpal Bill and the government’s version. They started the day on Friday with a meeting with senior BJP leader LK Advani. Later, they met CPI general secretary AB Bardhan.

Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said Advani backed an effective Lokpal. The meeting with the CPI’s Bardhan also went off well, the civil society team said.