Two days ahead of the next meeting of the Joint Drafting Committee, the Anna Hazare-led civil society members termed Dr Manmohan Singh, as the “most honest Prime Minister that the country has had”, and appealed to him to push for inclusion of the Prime Minister's post in the Lokpal's ambit.

They also took on Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, for accusing civil society of trying to undermine democracy. His statement betrayed a “distorted understanding of democracy and arrogance of power”, they said.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, they sought clarification on the Government's position on the issue, as conflicting statements were being made by Ministers and ruling party leaders.

“We remember that in the past, you had yourself offered to be brought under the purview of the Lokpal Bill. Then why are your own ministers opposing your inclusion…Is there a disconnect or communication gap within the Government?” they wrote.

The letter also mentioned that Mr Mukherjee, as chair of the Standing Committee on Lokpal in 2001, had himself recommended that the Prime Minister be covered under Lokpal and then Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had agreed to that.

The letter was signed by five civil society members – Mr Anna Hazare, Mr Shanti Bhushan, Mr Justice Santosh Hedge, Mr Prashant Bhushan and Mr Arvind Kejriwal.

Later, at a press meet, Mr Kejriwal said they would now approach all Opposition parties as well as UPA allies and seek their opinion on the matter.

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