· Nine opposition parties, including the Left, termed the government version of the Lokpal Bill "ineffective" and said they would jointly organise nationwide protests next week to demand an effective legislation to curb corruption. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (Secular), came together on a common platform to express solidarity with Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement on Friday.
· The parties called for a strong bill to deal with corruption in government offices.
· "Our opinion is that the bill in its present form is ineffective and is not going to bring about any change. So, we are demanding a powerful lokpal," CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said after meeting other leaders like Chandrababu Naidu, Deve Gowda, Ajit Singh, AB Bardhan, M Thambidurai and B Mahtab.
· While Karat said they would present their concerns and suggestions before the standing committee to which the bill has been referred to now, Bardhan said, "If necessary, we will demand the bill's withdrawal."
· The front also announced to launch a nationwide campaign on August 23.
· "We will hold countrywide demonstrations against rampant corruption," Karat said, adding that Hazare's arrest was an "attack on democratic rights and attempt to curtail the right to freedom of speech in the country".
· In addition to the agitation, the front is also trying to arrive at a solution to resolve the differences. The parties, it is understood, has roped in legal experts to come up with a tangible solution to the problem of corruption.
· The leaders have also demanded constitution of a National Judicial Commission, apart from implementing electoral reforms and effective measures to bring back the black money stashed away in Swiss banks.