Talking to media persons from the sidelines of the full Planning Commission meeting here, PM said, “Govt is in favour of a strong, effective Lokpal Bill which could help us curbing the prevalent corruption in the country.”
Stressing that the process of making the legislation takes time, Singh said, “There is a dynamics in the legislative process and it takes time for a bill to be passed”.
On being asked about the civil society’s demand of passing the bill before august 30, Manmohan Singh said, “I do not want to say anything to controvert anyone saying anything on the bill”.
“I don’t want to say anything that can be even slightly controversial,” he added.
"We are open to, I think, discussion and dialogue. We would like...a broad national consensus to emerge," Singh underlined.
The Prime Minister also expressed hope that situation might change after the talks.
"Therefore there is a lot of scope for give and take. Our hope is that we can enlist the cooperation of all thinking segments of Indian public opinion to ensure that the end product is a strong and effective Lokpal which all sections of our community want," he said.
He noted that the government had presented a Lokpal Bill in Parliament which was the demand of all political parties voiced at a conference convened by him.
"They (parties) said we cannot give you our view point unless and until you come out with a draft. We have fulfilled that obligation," he said.
Gandhian Anna Hazare is on indefinite fast pressing for a stronger Lokpal Bill to check corruption.
Team Anna had hinted that they were ready to talk with the government, however, they had said that the government is yet to open its door for dialogues.
"We are ready to talk to the government but there is no communication from their side,” Hazare’s close associate Arvind Kejriwal hadsaid. Manish Sisodia, another close aide of Hazare asked, “Where should we go to talk and whom should we talk to?"