New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS) Conveying the “sense of the House” at the end of the parliamentary debate on the Lokpal bill, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Saturday said there was in-principle agreement among political parties on the three key demands of social activist Anna Hazare namely citizens' charter, inclusion of lower bureaucracy under Lokpal and establishment of Lokayuktas in states.


"What I understand from observations of members, if I can convert it into sense of house, then perhaps I can say that (there is) in principle agreeing on citizens charter, lower bureaucracy to be brought under Lokpal under appropriate mechanism and establishment of Lokayukta in states,” Mukherjee said in his reply to the eight-hour debate on the Lokpal bill in the Lok Sabha.

Mukherjee later spoke in a similar vein in the Rajya Sabha. Contrary to speculation, there was no voice vote or adoption of a resolution at the end of debate.

He urged Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to send the entire proceedings of the debate to the standing committee examining the Lokpal bill which will send its recommendation at an appropriate time to the government.

He said the debate was not merely an academic exercise and “somebody (will) take an important decision”.

Referring to opposition criticism of the way it handled negotiations with Team Hazare, the minister said he was not scoring debating points.

“You can call we bungled. I will accept it... I have no intention in joining issue with you,” he said.

The minister said the government had held consultations with Hazare for a way to end his fast.

“We have been criticised but please remember we are the largest functional democracy of the world encompassing 120 crore-plus people. It is not necessary (that) we shall always have to move in a conventional mechanism,” he said.

He urged members not to be excessively critical. “You can use abusive language against us. Only for today's sake, I am requesting you with folded hands... Yes, it is unconventional.”

Mukherjee said successive governments could not pass the Lokpal bill for over the past four decades.

“Yes, we could not do it... (It is) our lapse.”

He said the government Lokpal bill incorporated several provisions of the Jan Lokpal bill and said they hoped to resolve other differences in a spirit of give and take.

Mukherjee said the debate was aimed at resolving the agitation “carried on by a very respectable leader having a very broad support”.