Patna:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today expressed his inability to give his opinion on the Lokpal Bill that's being developed in Delhi to combat corruption.
"After reading Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's letter, it is explicit that the Centre has not yet prepared the final draft of the proposed Lokpal Bill. At this stage any comment from my end will be premature and not in consonance with the spirit of the Constitution," Mr Kumar told reporters here.
The Centre has asked chief ministers for feedback on contentious issues like whether the Prime Minister and senior judges should be covered by the Lokpal Bill.
Civil society activists say this is critical, the government disagrees. The committee appointed to prepare the Lokpal Bill pairs five minister s with five activists led by Anna Hazare.
The bill is meant to be presented to Parliament before the end of this month.
"It is rather surprising that on such a vital issue, responses of the chief ministers and other stake holders are being sought in such a casual and hurried manner," said Mr Kumar.