BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman tells Kunal Majumder that the party will reveal its stand on Lokpal in Parliament

Why isn’t the BJP taking a position on the Lokpal Bill?

When the government decided to engage with the civil society group represented by Anna Hazare, they did not think it was necessary to invite the principal opposition party. It was important for the government to take all political parties on board. The government has not clearly stated its stand on the Lokpal Bill either. I can understand the enthusiasm and curiosity to know what is our party’s stand. In all fairness, we will state our view in Parliament.

Isn’t it hypocritical that on one hand, you support movements led by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev and on the other, you refuse to take a clear stand on the Lokpal Bill?

No, the hypocrisy will be if we say we are supporting the fight against corruption but we don’t want a Lokpal Bill. We are not saying that. We think the Lokpal Bill will be an important instrument through which corruption can be fought. When we haven’t been invited to have any role in drafting the Bill, why is everybody thinking that we are behaving like a hypocrite? We are waiting for the right time.

Read rest of the interview in Tehelka dated 25 June 2011

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