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Law mnister M Veerappa Moily on Tuesday said it is possible for the government to meet the August 15 deadline set by social activist Anna Hazare for passage of the Lokpal bill in Parliament if all cooperate. "Yes, it is possible to meet the August 15 deadline, provided if all cooperated", Moily told mediapersons before leaving for Delhi.
Moily reiterated that the process of drafting of the bill was expected to be completed by June 30 and the bill introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament. "The Congress' agenda is to eradicate corruption and same was
the resolve of Hazare," he said. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has also suggested a five-point agenda to check corruption, he added.
Referring to the controversy surrounding remarks by Telecom minister Kapil Sibal over the bill and the reaction it evoked from Hazare, Moily sought to play it down terming it as a "communication gap". The anti-corruption crusader had said "if Sibal feels that nothing will happen due to the Lokpal bill, then he should resign from the joint committee (set up to draft the bill) as soon as possible".
On the plea moved by former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh before the Supreme Court praying for the Special Investigation Team to probe the cash-for-vote scam during the trust vote faced by the United Progressive Alliance government in July 2008, Moily said "an inquiry is already on".
The Supreme Court had decided to hear the petition and allowed Lyngdoh to approach it afresh after two weeks.