Lokpal bill to take more time to examine: Congress

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NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel examining the Lokpal bill can amend it up to 80 percent and all stakeholders should "show flexibility" on the issue, the panel's head and Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

The panel "can amend the government's bill by up to 80 percent of its original version," Singhvi, who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on personnel, public grievances and law and justice, told reporters here.

The panel "is open to all suggestions. A reasonable solution can still be found," he said when asked about the August 30 deadline set by Team Anna to pass its version of the Lokpal bill.

"Everything cannot be decided on the basis of deadlines," Singhvi said, adding: "It is important to show flexibility by moving away from timelines. There is need for restraint and discipline from all sides."

He hoped the bill could be debated in the winter session of parliament in November-December.

"We will try to ensure that we give recommendations on the Lokpal bill well before the three-month period given to us... so it's ready for introduction in the next (winter) session," Singhvi said.