Cong must clarify Lokpal stand: Smriti

BHUBANESWAR: BJP MP Smriti Irani here on Friday accused the Congress-led UPA government of flip-flopping on the Anna Hazare issue.

Questioning the intention of the Congress on a strong anti-corruption law, the actor-turned politician lamented that the government is not allowing a debate followed by voting on the Lokpal issue even after the BJP moved the motion in both houses of the Parliament. Notably, the government has agreed on a discussion on the motion without voting.

While BJP has clarity on the issue of Lokpal, the Congress has not made it clear what it wants, she told reporters.

BJP top leadership, including party chief Nitin Gatkari, has clearly said BJP favours the Prime Minister to be brought under the Lokpal ambit and a separate national judicial commission for judicial accountability. "Our demands are very similar to what Team Anna wants. Congress should clarify what their idea of a strong Lokpal is," the Rajya Sabha member told reporters.

Smriti, who was in the city for party organizational work ahead of panchayat elections in the state, said the government was inconsistent in its approach to the impasse over Anna's fast. tnn The government didn't involve the opposition in the talks with Anna Hazare initially. It invited the opposition only when things got challenging with Team Anna, she said.

Reminding that it was the same government which attacked Ramdev and his supporters for raising the issue of corruption at Ramlila Maidan on June 4, Smriti questioned the government's sincerity. "The biggest question today is will the elected government be able to give justice to the people," she said.