Government not serious about lokpal: BJP

As Anna Hazare and his team sat on a one-day token fast at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the protest was needed as the government was not serious about the anti-graft Lokpal Bill.

As Anna Hazare and his team sat on a one-day token fast at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the protest was needed as the government was not serious about the anti-graft Lokpal Bill.

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"The government is not serious and honest about passing a strong Lokpal Bill. So, whether it is Anna Hazare or Baba Ramdev, they feel the need to fast again," BJP leader Balbir Punj told reporters.

The BJP leader, however, matched tune with the ruling Congress on the issue that the formulation of law should be left to Parliament.

"Law can't be made in a way that India's 1.2 billion people are satisfied. Team Anna should discuss their issues on the (Lokpal) bill with political parties. Except the Congress, all parties respect Anna and will consider his suggestion," Punj said.

The BJP leader also said that the amendments suggested by the opposition are in tune with Team Anna's demands and the government should consider them seriously.

Earlier, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi had said that the government was committed to a strong Lokpal Bill but it was for Parliament to formulate the law.

"The government is committed to a strong Lokpal but it is for Parliament to decide what kind of law has to be made," Alvi had told reporters here.