Govt may redraft Lokpal to address allies' concerns

New Delhi: Ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament in February, the government is set to refine and redraft the Lokpal Bill in order to address the concerns of allies, especially on the issue of Lokayuktas in states and control of CBI.

The government will use the time in January to reach out particularly to Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, which holds the key in the Rajya Sabha.

Sources told CNN-IBN that the Prime Minister has conveyed to ministers that concerns over state Lokayuktas need to be addressed.

Meanwhile, questions also being raised about the Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari's role.

BJP has indicated that it was unhappy with the way Ansari had conducted himself during the last few minutes of the session when the Lokpal Bill was being discussed but restrained itself due to respect for the high office.

Vice President Ansari had adjourned the Rajya Sabha stating there was total impasse and the House cannot be run in this noise.

BJP was not pleased with Ansari's decision and felt the matter could have been dealt with differently. The opposition wanted the House to continue functioning till the Bill was passed or seek an extension from the President.

"On January 3, a high-level BJP delegation will meet President Pratibha Patil to register its protest against the murder of democracy by the UPA government," BJP Chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said after the meeting.

The delegation will be led by senior leader LK Advani and party president Nitin Gadkari.

The BJP will also launch a "Save democracy, remove Congress" campaign throughout the country from January 3-10.

"The campaign will be from BJP's district headquarters to the state level as well as by the Central unit. Silent protest marches by BJP members wearing black bands will be held against the shameless manner in which the government conducted itself on the Lokpal Bill," Prasad said.

It seems that the Lokpal fiasco has given Anna Hazare's campaign a new lease of life.

Team Anna's Core Committee meets on Monday in Ralegan Siddhi to chalk out its next course of action.

After the poor show in Mumbai, the Team has been vague about its strategy going forward. Anna called off his fast and 'jail bharo' agitation citing poor health. But many say it could be the low turnout at Mumbai.

During his fast. Team Anna member Kiran Bedi has said that they are undecided about campaigning in the polls.