Terming the joining of hands of civil society and government on the Lokpal Bill issue as a step that augurs well for democracy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government intends to introduce the “historic legislation” in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

“I am happy that the government and representatives of civil society have reached an agreement in our mutual resolve to combat corruption. I am pleased that Anna Hazare has agreed to give up his fast,” he said in a statement in New Delhi.

Describing corruption a scourge that confronts all of us, the Prime Minister said, “The fact that the civil society and the government have joined hands to evolve a consensus to move this historic legislation augurs well for our democracy.”

He said the interaction between the government and the representatives of Hazare were productive.

“I hope that process to prepare this legislation will move forward in a constructive mode so that after consultation with a wide spectrum of stake holders, this legislation is placed before the Cabinet for introduction during the Monsoon Session,” the Prime Minister said.

Government had Friday night agreed to issue a formal order to set up a 10-member joint committee for drafting a strong Lokpal Bill.

The announcement of an agreement came from both sides after four days of Hazare’s fast-unto-death that evoked a nationwide support cutting across the society.

“Government has accepted all our demands and I will end my fast tomorrow at 10:30 A.M. This is a victory for the entire nation,” Hazare had said Friday night.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be the Chairman of the committee.

Following is the text of the Gazettee Notification issued by the government constituting the Joint Drafting Committee comprising ministers and civil society activists to prepare the draft Lok Pal Bill.

“The Joint Drafting Committee shall consist of five nominee ministers of the Government of India and five nominees of Shri Anna Hazare (including himself).

The five nominee Ministers of the Government of India are as under:-

Pranab Mukherjee, Union Minister of Finance, P Chidambaram, Union Minister of Home Affairs, M Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Resource and Development and Minister of Communication and Information Technology and Salman Khursheed, Union Minister of Water Resources and Minister of Minority Affairs.

The five nominees of Anna Hazare (including himself) are as under:-

Anna Hazare, Justice N Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan, Senior Advocate, Prashan Bhushan, Advocate and Arvind Kejriwal. The Chairperson of the Joint Drafting Committee shall be Pranab Mukherjee.

The Co-Chairperson of the Joint Drafting Committee shall be Shanti Bhushan.

The Convenor of the Join Drafting Committee shall be M Veerappa Moily.

The Joint Drafting Committee shall commence its work forthwith and evolve its own procedure to prepare the proposed legislation.

The Joint Drafting Committee shall complete its work latest by 30th June, 2011.”