"Party supports Rahul Gandhi's idea. Incorporating it in the bill will not take much time nor involve any technicalities," said Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi.
He said that only one line proposal of including the Lokpal in the list of institutions having constitutional status needs to be added in the proposed bill if Parliament agreed. "It is for the collective wisdom of the Standing Committee and the Parliament to accept it," Dwivedi added.
Echoing similar views, party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said at the All India Congress Committee briefing that giving constitutional status will be the "ultimate destination" but that does not prevent Lokpal to be a statutory body for the time being. It asserted that the Congress has made its stand clear through Gandhi that it would like Lokpal to be even stronger in the shape of a constitutional body.
He dismissed opposition allegation that Gandhi's idea was a tactic to delay the process.
Asked whether Gandhi's suggestion would be considered by the Parliamentary Standing Committee which is headed by him, Singhvi said that all kinds of suggestions and views are important for standing committee and they will look into them with equal importance.
He said the Congress has resolved to enact a strong Lokpal legislation and Gandhi has expressed the resolve for even a "more elevated" body by giving it a constitutional status which is "our ultimate endeavour".
