Paswan says he is against Jan Lokpal Bill draft

Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday said he was against the Jan Lokpal Bill, proposed by anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare and his team, as it did not have any provision for SC/ST reservations.

"One more layer in probe agencies would be added if the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed. This bill does not have provisions for the SCs & STs," he told reporters here.

"However, a strong and efficient bill should be there to curb the menace of corruption. We will discuss various aspects of the Bill in the standing committee meeting," added Paswan, who is a member of the Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances and Law and Justice that will examine the bill.

To a query on the sidelining of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati by the National Dalit Front, he said, "She plays caste politics. Before the elections in UP she made statements against the upper class people but after the elections she changed her stand. BSP is the party of the upper class people."