Lokpal Bill: RS opts for more debate in-House

There was high drama over whether rules permitted a member other than the minister to move such a motion. The government yielded and the motion was then moved by Narayanasamy,which was immediately passed by voice vote.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sat through the proceedings.

Narayanasamy said the 15-member committee would have to submit its report by the first day of the last week of Monsoon Session. The select committee will have Shantaram Naik,Satyavrat Chaturvedi and Shadi Lal Batra from Congress; Arun Jaitley,Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Bhupendra Yadav from BJP; Satish Chandra Mishra BSP,Shivanand Tiwari JD-U,D P Tripathi NCP,Tiruchi Shiva DMK,V Maitreyan AIADMK,K N Balagopal CPI-M,D Bandyopadhyay Trinamool,Ramgopal Yadav SP and Ashok Ganguly Nominated.

Last evening,the Government had circulated three proposed amendments among MPs but now the entire Bill will be examined by the Select Committee afresh. These amendments related to the Lokayukta,the process of removal of the Lokpal and the CBIs role:

The contentious issue of Lokayuktas was dropped and it was left to the States to take the final call. The state legislature can also enact a law keeping the Lokayukta provision in the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill as a model resolution. The Bill in its earlier form made it necessary for states to create a Lokayukta on the lines of Lokpal at the Centre.

Government removed a clause in the Lokpal Bill which allowed any citizen to move for the removal of the anti-corruption ombudsman. According to the amendment,the move for removal can be made only through a petition signed by not less than 100 MPs. 8230;Supreme Court,on a reference being made to it by the President on a petition signed by at least one hundred Members of Parliament, read the amendment to Clause 37.

n The Lokpal may ask the CBI to probe a complaint and the agency will file a chargesheet to the court with a copy to the Lokpal who can then refer it to the proposed independent directorate of prosecution for further action.

Questioning the sincerity of the government,Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said: I urge the Prime Minister and the Government to be upfront and forthright and say do we want a Lokpal or we dont.

He also questioned the Governments intentions in bringing the Bill a day before the session ends,even when it had enough time to consult the Opposition. We have given our views formally at the all-party meeting and even informally, he said. Saying the credibility of Parliamentary institution now is at stake,Jaitley said: We want and the country wants that the government comes out clearly on this issue.

The government also came under sharp attack from the BSP with Mayawati agreeing with the Leader of Opposition on the governments intention and asked it to come out with a proper proposal for passing the Bill.

This is your weakness and you are shirking your responsibility, she said referring to the SPs role in introducing the resolution. She said the Bill must not be passed in haste but only after proper discussion with all parties. Also questioning the SPs role,CPMs Sitaram Yechury asked the Government to include private corporates under the purview of Lokpal saying: You are not putting a check on demand side of corruption and are not putting a check on the supply side of corruption.

RJDs Ram Kripal Yadav opposed the bill as he questioned that the partys representative has not been included in the panel.