Prithviraj Chavan hopeful of early passage of Lokpal Bill

Maharashtra Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday expressed optimism that the Lokpal Bill would be passed in parliament as soon as possible.

He was speaking to reporters on Tuesday after attending a board meeting of vice chancellors at Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration. “The Union government would surely look into the suggestions made by Anna Hazare and others to make amendments after evolving consensus on the issue,” he added.

Asked whether the central government was trying to suppress the agitation by Team Anna and supporters of Jan Lokpal Bill across the country, Chavan said nothing of that kind has happened in Maharashtra.

On the Union government’s opposition to Hazare’s demand to bring the prime minister and the judiciary in the ambit of the Lokpal, Chavan said these issues would be discussed in parliament before the Bill is passed.

Addressing a gathering at a function at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, Chavan said it was due to the initiative of the Congress-led Union government that the Right to Information Act (RTI), 2005, came into existence.

“The RTI Act is a milestone and it is aiding in tackling the menace of corruption,” he said.