BJP demands strong Lokpal covering PM. Anna Fumes on Congress. Lokpal on Flame.

Lokpal Bill introduced in parliament, opposition protests

By IANS, Thursday, 04 August 2011 / New Delhi : The Lokpal Bill which seeks to combat corruption was introduced in parliament amid strong protests from the opposition.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly opposed the introduction of the bill, demanding that the prime minister should be brought within its ambit. 

The proposed legislation's purview does not bring under it the prime minister during his or her term in office. But once the prime minister demits office, he or she can be investigated for any wrongdoing during the term, according to the bill's provisions.

It also excludes from the Lokpal's ambit the judiciary and any action of an MP in parliament or any parliamentary committee.

"I cannot understand how anyone, sitting in any position, be a holy cow? In this Lokpal why is the prime minister out of it?" Swaraj asked in the house.

"I am happy that the prime minister himself had said that it is okay if he is brought within the ambit of the Lokpal Bill. Then, why is the cabinet not paying heed to it?" she added.

Narayansamy defended the introduction of the bill, saying it has become the property of the house and it will immediately go to the parliamentary standing committee. "Parliament is supreme so the opposition by Swaraj cannot be sustained."

Replying to Swaraj's statement that former prime minister A.B. Vajpayee had accepted to be within the ambit of anti-corruption law, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: "I was chairing the parliamentary standing committee on anti-corruption bill in 2001."

"I placed it before parliament for two consecutive years. Why wasn't it cleared then?" he asked.

To mark their protest, the civil society representatives led by social activist Anna Hazare burnt copies of the government's version of the bill at several places in the country and asked the nation to do the same. 

Why Prime Minister is excluded from Lokpal ambit ?

Govt draft on Lokpal excludes Prime Minister

NEW DELHI, July 25, 2011 || PTI

A Student Union in Ranchi demonstrating for the inclusion of
PM in the ambit of Lokpal. However the Govt draft
excluded it. Photo-PTI. 

The government draft on Lokpal Bill, which is expected to be considered by the Cabinet this week, does not include the Prime Minister in the purview of the Ombudsman but the final call on the ticklish issue will be taken by Parliament and its Standing Committee.

Disclosing this, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the Bill will be introduced in Parliament in the Monsoon session starting on August 1.

The government’s draft has been prepared by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which is the nodal ministry, and the issue is likely come up before Cabinet this week or early next week.

“Once the Cabinet approves the draft with or without changes — it is the government’s draft that will be introduced in Parliament. So we will introduce the Lokpal Bill in the Monsoon session of Parliament,” he told PTI here.

On the controversial question of bringing the Prime Minister’s post in the ambit of Lokpal, Mr. Chidambaram said, “According to present thinking, and subject to change by the Cabinet, the government’s draft keeps out the Prime Minister.

“...Our considered view at the moment, subject to change by the Cabinet, is that the PM should be kept out of Lokpal,” he added.

The Home Minister noted that there are several arguments for and against keeping the Prime Minister out of the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog.

Read details in:  The Hindu
Courtesy : The Hindu & PTI.This is published in the National interest and under citizen's responsibility for awareness generation programme. 

Lok Pal Trail : Lokpal Bill in Monsoon Session : How ??

Govt confident of introducing Lokpal Bill in Monsoon Session 
Source: PTI  || Date: 7/4/2011 4:02:54 PM || eNews Bharati.

New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) : With majority of political parties batting for Parliamentary supremacy on the Lokpal Bill, government today expressed confidence that a consensus will emerge on the issue and the draft legislation would be introduced in Parliament in the upcoming Monsoon Session.

"We are very happy with the outcome of the all party meeting yesterday...we are confident we can take the process forward to bring the Bill in the Monsoon Session and pass it as soon as possible," Home Minister P Chidambaram said here.

He pointed out that yesterday's all party meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emphasised the primacy of the Parliamentary process and the role of political parties to pilot and approve legislations.

Chidambaram's remarks reflected a sense of relief in the government which was so far battling the civil society led by Anna Hazare on the Lokpal issue alone while receiving flak from Opposition parties on the issue of corruption.

"We will therefore bring a Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament. That Bill will be examined. Every effort will be made to pass the Bill at the earliest. But that will depend on the members of Parliament and their desire to follow established procedures," Chidambaram said.

Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal made it very clear that the government had promised to bring the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament in the Monsoon Session but there was no commitment on the timeline of passing the same.

"We had said we are committed to bringing the Bill in the monsoon session. We never said it will be passed in the monsoon session," Sibal said.

The Minister also said that two parties which took part in the all party meeting suggested that the Bill could be passed in the Winter Session.

Courtesy : PTI & News Bharati. This is published in the National interest and under citizen's responsibility.