Civil society wants public debate with government on Lokpal Bill

As serious differences over various provisions marred the drafting of the Lokpal Bill, civil society members on Wednesday invited government nominees for a public debate on contentious issues, which could be telecast live on TV.

In a letter to Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, panel co-chairman Shanti Bhushan said they were organising a national public debate on six issues on which the government and the civil society have different opinions.

"The debate is likely to be telecast live by many national and regional TV channels. It would educate the people about these issues and help them in giving an informed opinion," Bhushan said.

Barring Santosh Hegde, he said, all the other four members -- Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and himself -- from the civil society group will participate in the debate.

"It would be useful if the government nominees of the drafting committee could also join the debate," he said, proposing June 5 as the date for the meeting.

However, Bhushan said if the timing was inconvenient for Mukherjee, they were ready to change it to some mutually convenient date and time. "Even if all the five ministers cannot come, it would be useful if a few of them were present," he said.

He said if the government agrees in principle, they could mutually decide the format and other details.

The civil society group also proposed that former Chief Justice J S Verma preside over the debate. However, Bhushan said they have not yet spoken to Verma but will talk to him if Mukherjee agrees with the suggestion.