Tewari, who had kicked up a controversy by accusing Anna Hazare of being "steeped in corruption from head to toe" but later apologised, opted out citing media reports that some people have objected to his continuance in the Committee.
Under attack for his comments on Anna Hazare, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari today opted out of the Parliamentary Standing Committee going into the Lokpal issue even as BJP inducted two new members in the panel being reconstituted after its term ended today.
Tewari, who had kicked up a controversy by accusing Anna Hazare of being "steeped in corruption from head to toe" but later apologised, opted out citing media reports that some people have objected to his continuance in the Committee.
"I am all for a strong and effective Lokpal. I heard some people objecting to my presence in the Committee. I do not want any controversy to cast a shadow on the deliberations of this important bill. I therefore recuse myself from the Standing Committee," Tewari told PTI.
The BJP has retained Haren Pathak and DB Chandre Gowda and has brought in Kirti Azad and Arjun Ram Meghwal, all four from Lok Sabha.
Party sources said Ram Jethmalani and Bal Apte, who were earlier also members of the Committee, will continue. Jethmalani was earlier on the panel as a nominated member.
The earlier two BJP members Jyoti Dhurve and Devji M Patel do not find a place in the new committee while Lok Sabha member Khagen Das will represent CPI(M) on the panel.
There could be many more changes in the membership of the Committee from other parties as well.
Samajwadi Party had nominated Amar Singh as a member of the Committee last time. Singh is no longer a party member.
There is no immediate word from the party on whom it is going to nominate for the Committee, but Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi, who is heading the Committee is likely to continue as chairman.
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