Khurshid takes a dig at Team Anna, says go to UN

New Delhi: Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid on Wednesday took a dig at Team Anna saying they were raising issues which have been rejected by the Supreme Court and if they did not have any faith in it, they could approach the United Nations.

"They should write to the United Nations. In India what can be more independent than the Supreme Court. They want independent probe into matters which have been rejected and disapproved by the Supreme Court," the Law Minister said.

He was replying to a question on Team Anna's demand for instituting an independent probe against 15 Union Ministers against whom they had levelled certain allegations. The Government has already rejected the demand.

The Law Minister said that if Team Anna did not have faith in the Supreme Court, they could approach the United Nations.

Team Anna on Wednesday launched an indefinite fast demanding a strong Lokpal and setting up of a special team to probe corruption allegations against Union Ministers and party chiefs and fast track court to try criminal cases against MPs.

Refuting Team Anna's allegations that government was not sincere in ensuring passage of the Lokpal Bill, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said the proposed legislation was being examined by a select committee of Parliament.

"The bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha. It was brought to the Rajya Sabha which is mandatory. There were over 185 amendments. There was so much discussion. It could not be passed," she said.

Noting that government has been making sincere efforts in bringing Lokpal, she said the bill was sent to select committee as members of Parliament wanted the legislation to be "powerful" and "complete".

"The Parliament of India is already looking at it. It is before the select committee," she said. Referring to government brining the Whistleblowers' Protection Bill and Citizens' Charter and Grievance Redressal Bill, Soni said the UPA was committed to bring transparency in governance

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