TV
In an apparent reference to Anna Hazare demand for passing the Jan Lokpal by this month-end, Singh said he does not want to controvert anything that was being said on it.
He said all the parties should work together to push for a "strong and effective" Lokpal and remove the "obstacles" in the way.
Observing that there was a "lot of scope for give and take", the Prime Minister said the government was "open to discussion and dialogue" as it wants a national consensus to emerge.
"We are all in favour of a Lokpal, which is strong, which is effective," he told a group of journalists after a full Planning Commission meeting while answering questions on the Hazare agitation.
"We are open to, I think, discussion and dialogue. We would like...a broad national consensus to emerge," Singh underlined.
"Therefore there is a lot of scope for give and take. Our hope is that we can enlist the cooperation of all thinking segements 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. .
