61 pc want PM under Lokpal purview: Poll

Image: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh

While the United Progressive Alliance ties itself up in knots, two out of every three Indians say the prime minister and the higher judiciary should be brought under the purview of the Lokpal, an issue that has seen the UPA government differing with civil society representatives.

This is the main finding of an opinion poll conducted for Outlook magazine by Marketing & Development Research Associates in five cities --Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai -- on June 1 and 2. The figure is lowest for one city that went to the polls recently (Chennai 25.6 per cent) and highest for another (Kolkata 87.2 per cent).

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60 pc want judges, MPs under scrutiny

Image: The Supreme Court in New Delhi

The trend is the same on the government's contention of keeping Supreme Court judges and Members of Parliament out. Overall, 60 per cent say judges and MPs too should come under the Lokpal's eagle eye, but in Chennai, in many senses the epicentre of the 2G scam, that figure shoots up to as much as 95.2 per cent.

2 out 3 Indians comfortable with powerful Lokpal

Image: Lakhs turned up in support of Hazare when he went on a fast unto death in April

Although reservations have been expressed about the Lokpal becoming a overarching big brother with oversight over the executive, judiciary and the executive, two out of three Indians say they are comfortable with the thought of a Lokpal with overwhelming powers.

74 pc say government responsible for standoff with civil society

Image: (From left) Social activists Arvind Kejriwal, Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh in New Delhi (Inset) Advocate M L Sharma

Seventy four per cent respondents hold government representatives responsible for the standoff. No city except Kolkata wants civil society representatives to quit if the government doesn't buckle into their demands. Over 80 per cent say they will join a fresh protest if the talks break down.

A total of 630 adults (455 men, 175 women) were polled.

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