Government working out modalities for discussion on Jan Lokpal, will take time

Government Thursday said it was working out modalities for a discussion on the salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament on Friday and it could take some time to end the impasse.

"We had a preliminary discussion with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Modalities are being worked out. It will take some more time. Unless we finalize the proposals, further things can't be said right now," Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told reporters after emerging from a meeting at Mukherjee's home where Law Minister Salman Khurshid, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal and Sandip Dikshit were also present.

Asked about the modalities, Deshmukh said "three issues (bringing lower bureaucracy under Lokpal purview, establishing Lokayukta in all states and citizen's charter) are being discussed. It will take some time to finalise the formalities."

On whether any draft has been prepared on the issue, he said "no draft has been prepared."

As part of efforts to end the fast of Anna Hazare, Deshmukh had met Anna Hazare on Wednesday morning.