BJP for amendments in Lokpal Bill

The decision was taken at the party`s core group meeting presided over by BJP president Nitin Gadkari and attended by L K Advani, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley besides other party leaders.

The historic Lokpal Bill was introduced by the government in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

"BJP doesn`t want a sarkari (government) Lokpal Bill. We want an effective Lokpal bill," said party general secretary Ananth Kumar. He said the party felt it is unfortunate that the Bill presented in Parliament "is full of infirmities - both legal and constitutional".

Ananth Kumar said the party felt the Bill also `infringes` upon the federal structure of the country as has been put forth by Leader of Opposition in the Lok sabha Sushma Swaraj during its introduction. "BJP will take all necessary steps on December 27, 28 and 29, during the Parliament session to take to logical conclusions the objections that the BJP has raised," said the party leader.

The BJP also felt that the Congress was not keen on bringing an effective Lokpal Bill as it had no intention to bring anything that could tackle corruption. The BJP core group also deliberated upon the party`s prospects in the five poll-bound states and discussed the steps to be taken to ensure the party`s victory.

At the core group meeting, party leaders felt BJP is in an advantageous position in all these poll-bound states but will have to further gear up efforts for victory, Kumar said.