Sonia ready to fight for Lokpal as Congress expresses 'no worries at all'

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Amid the belligerent mood of the Opposition over the Lokpal issue, the Congress today hoped of a positive outcome and said it was not worried about any threat.

"We must act and think positive. We expect collective wisdom of Parliament will do something," Congress spokesperson Janardhan Dwivedi told reporters when asked whether Lokpal Bill will be passed in the session given the mood of the Opposition.

He also said that the Congress is not worried over Team Anna's agitation threat.

"We are not worried about any challenge," he said in reply to a question whether the proposed agitation will create law and order problems.

On Anna Hazare's comment that Lokpal Bill is nothing but cheating with the people, Dwivedi said: "I do not consider this view deserves my comment."

Asked if there is any difference between party and the government, he said: "Soniaji has completely rejected this criticism in the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting. She said that there may be different points of views so far any issue is concerned. But as far as working is concerned party and the government are working together and marching together with one voice and approach."

Another Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said BJP and other Opposition parties are opposing the Lokpal Bill just for the sake of opposition.

"We know whatever we pass they are bound to oppose," he said, adding: "People are with us and we will pass the bill in Parliament."

The two statements come hours after Congress president Sonia Gandhi lashed out at the opposition and Team Anna, saying she was 'ready to fight for Lokpal and women's reservation' bills.

"They must accept it. I am always ready for a fight," Gandhi, emerging out of a morning meeting, told reporters in a short conversation.

Women's reservation

The women's reservation bill, which proposes that 33 per cent of seats in legislatures be reserved for women, has been hanging fire after the Rajya Sabha passed it in March 2010. It is facing severe opposition from many parties.

Gandhi, who is also the chairperson of the ruling combine United Progressive Alliance (UPA), said some people were spreading 'rumours' that there were differences between the government and the Congress.

Describing as a canard the speculations about differences between the government and the party, Gandhi said there could be different perceptions on some important issues but in the final count both were on the same platform.

'Opposition cannot get over loss'

Gandhi critisised the opposition for frequent parliament disruptions and said: "The opposition cannot reconcile to the fact that they lost (previous elections)."

She was asked about Hazare and his team of supporters expressing dissatisfaction over the cabinet approved Lokpal bill - that brings the prime minister within its ambit but leaves out two other key demands of the activists for inclusion of the CBI and the lower bureaucracy.

Hazare dubbed the government as 'dishonest' and has vowed another hunger strike from December 27.

Gandhi told Congress MPs that no other party had done as much as the Congress to fight corruption in the country.

Referring to the Burari session of the Congress last December, she said the party had decided on the steps to fight corruption and delivered on those promises.