New Delhi, Dec 28: Close aide of anti-graft crusader, Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi said the proposal for granting a constitutional status to Lokpal is a distraction and a diversionary tactic.

Bedi said this while interacting with mediapersons in New Delhi on Wednesday.

“During the mass agitation, was there a demand in any part of the country to make it constitutional? Constitutional status is given to that bill which is accepted and respected by you. We already knew that the constitutional status is a distraction and is a diversionary tactic. This is not possible and after this there is only blame game,” said Bedi.

She further stated that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should be set free from the clutches of central government so that it is able to conduct probe in cases of corruption in a legitimate manner.

“The amendment stating that the administrative control of CBI should be shifted under government is an important amendment. And for this if opposition is combined then the Bill can be passed. This implies that Lok Sabha will pass one kind of Bill and Rajya Sabha will pass another kind of Bill and so, this country would be having two types of Bill. It head towards the joint session,” added Bedi.

She further asserted that the Bill would get wedged in Rajya Sabha just like the Women Reservation Bill.

It was Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, who had first proposed to give the ombudsman constitutional status, at par with prestigious institutions such as the Election Commission.

The lower house of Parliament had passed the bill on Tuesday to create an anti-corruption ombudsman, in a move that government hopes would deflate Anna’s movement, who has tapped into widespread anger at corrupt public officials.

Protest leader Anna Hazare, 74, who began a three-day fast to coincide with the parliamentary debate, wants the ombudsman to have greater powers to investigate high ranking scammers. He says the protests will continue unless his demands are met.