Home minister PChidambaram today criticised civil society members for challenging Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to a television debate on corruption.
"When someone challenges the Finance Minister to a debate in television, he misses the fact that debate takes place in Parliament and Parliamentary debates are televised and voters watch Parliamentary debates and exercise their franchise from time-to-time," he said.
The Home Minister said the Central government was committed to drafting the Lokpal Bill by June 30.
"We are clearly committed to the goal that a bill will be drafted by June 30. I sincerely hope that the other five members of the Committee will return to the drafting committee's meeting," he said
Chidambaram said the next meeting of the joint drafting committee has been deferred because social activist Anna Hazare is not available on that day. "We have deferred (the meeting) by a few days," he said.