Committee needs experts not just individuals: Hazare

New Delhi, Apr 10 (PTI) Against the backdrop of Indian
yoga guru Baba Ramdev taking exception to inclusion of
father-son duo Shanti and Prashant Bhushan in the Lokpal Bill
committee, Anna Hazare on Sunday said it was important to have
experts in it rather than representation of individuals.
"At present the committee needs experts who can draft
a stronger bill. Who should be part of it and who should stay
out are not important matters. This will be of importance at a
later stage... when the Lokpal committee will be formed", he
explained.
Asked why retired IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi
was not part of the committee, 73-year-old Hazare said
individuals were not important and the committee needed
experts at this stage.
Ramdev, who had joined the agitation, had objected to
the inclusion of the Bhushans in the committee, alleging it
showed nepotism. "Why is there nepotism in the committee? Why
both father and son are accommodated in the committee?" Ramdev
had asked.
Hazare disagreed with him, saying, "You can level any
allegation against me. I am a person who follows Gandhian
principles. Nothing wrong in having two members of the same
family in the panel. We need experience. We need expertise".
The veteran activist broke 98-hour-long fast yesterday
morning after the government issued a notification for
drafting an effective Lokpal Bill.