Congress and NCP slam Anna for setting deadline

Political leaders on Saturday criticised social activist Anna Hazare for setting deadline of August 30 for passing the civil society's version of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The leaders mainly from Congress party and its allies argued that the legislative process is long and deadline of August 30 cannot be met if parliamentary procedures are followed. Coal Minister, Sri Prakash Jaiswal in Kanpur, opined similar views as he asked Hazare to press for dialogue with government. Minister of state for IT and Communications, Sachin Pilot said dialogue is the way for resolving the dispute between the government and the civil society representatives over the Lokpal bill.