Addressing a press conference here today, Joshi accused Hazare and Dharmadhikari of seeking personal and political mileage out of the issue. ``Hazare and Dharmadhikari have resorted to hunger strikes, agitations and demonstrations saying the government is reluctant to introduce the bill. They are also accusing the government of not having any transparency,'' he said. The bill, Joshi said had been prepared and was only awaiting the constitution of the 13th Lok Sabha.

``In fact the bill would have been tabled and passed in both the houses of Parliament had the government not been toppled,'' he added.

He added that once passed, the bill will bring about amendments to theOfficial Secrecy Act, the Indian Evidence Act, the Central Code of Conduct for government officials and the Classification of official documents and reports.

Explaining the procedure adopted, Joshi said the government had arranged meetings with representatives of various organisations demanding the passage of the bill and officials from ministries like Information and Broadcasting, Law and Judiciary, Railway, Post, Home and senior Supreme Court lawyers. The government then appointed a study group to draft the bill. This group had submitted its report to the government in Apil 1997. The prime minister, in a meeting of all chief ministers in May 1997, had even got the draft approved.

The draft bill was then submitted to the Lok Sabha secretary, who in turn circulated it amongst the public to elicit objections and suggestions. About 200 suggestions were received by the LS secretary and the draft bill was amended accordingly. Joshi said that once the new government is formed, the bill will be passed withoutany delay as the only thing now remaining was approval of both houses of Parliament and a nod from the President of India.