Congress casts doubts on Hazare’s lokpal panel members

Even as anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and other non-government members on the committee for drafting the Lokpal bill announced that they would declare their assets today, Congress general secretary Digivjaya Singh sparked off a fresh controversy by questioning the credentials of some members of the panel.

In a TV interview broadcast on Thursday, Singh said that the father-son lawyer duo of Shanti and Prashant Bhushan must answer questions on alleged avoidance of property tax. He also suggested that Hazare should have opted for others who have a better track record.

''Keeping Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan both there … I was really surprised, yesterday only they have been noticed for undervaluing their property and also avoiding paying the right amount of stamp duty. I think they should be careful in choosing their friends,'' he said.

He asserted that both Shanti and Prashant Bhushan had received court notices in this regard on Wednesday. ''This raises serious question marks,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Hazare's organisation India Against Corruption (IAC) said that the civil society members in the joint drafting committee will declare their assets and liabilities today. The organisation also released revised details of donations and expenditure during Hazare's anti-graft campaign that culminated in the government agreeing to establish the joint drafting committee.

"We have received total donations of Rs8,287,668. We have issued receipts to all the donors and have maintained a record of their details," IAC said in a statement.