Thursday, July 17, 2025
spot_img

NDA to attend, Sena to skip all-party meeting on Lokpal

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

New Delhi: BJP-led NDA on Saturday said it would attend the all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Lokpal Bill but indicated it would respond only to a draft legislation approved by the union cabinet and introduced in Parliament.

While NDA allies JD(U) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) were in favour of attending the all-party meeting, BJP was initially in two minds on whether to participate or keep away.

Key NDA ally Shiv Sena has ruled out its participation in Sunday’s meeting due to some differences with civil rights activist Anna Hazare who spoke against its chief Bal Thackeray a few days ago.

Sources said finally a decision was taken that NDA should participate in the meeting, listen to the government’s views and make its opinion on the issue known to UPA as well as other parties.

However, the opposition has decided not to react to the working paper and the two drafts of the bill sent by the government to all parties. Instead, NDA will categorically tell the government that it will react only to a Lokpal Bill approved by the union cabinet and introduced in Parliament.

After the NDA meeting, its working chairperson LK Advani said “this is for the first time that the government has invited the opposition for a meeting on the Lokpal Bill. Initially, when the opposition parties discussed the invitation, there was no clarity on whether we should attend. Today, we decided that we should go there and expresss our differences on the issue.” (PTI)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Israel strikes Damascus amid Syria-Druze clashes

DAMASCUS, July 16: Clashes erupted in the southern Syrian city of Sweida on Wednesday after a ceasefire between...

20 killed at Gaza aid site, says Israel-linked group

TEL AVIV, July 16: Twenty Palestinians were killed at a food distribution center run by an Israeli-backed American...

Thai woman held for blackmailing monks

BANGKOK, July 16: Thai police have arrested Wilawan Emsawat, a woman accused of seducing senior Buddhist monks into...

Russian attack on Ukraine energy grid injures 15

KYIV, July 16: Russia launched a major overnight aerial assault on Ukraine, injuring at least 15 people and...