Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: The much-awaited Lokpal Bill is all set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday amid concerns that the government’s bill is ‘not strong enough’.
The bill will be introduced by Minister of State of Parliamentary Affairs, Prime Minister`s office, Personal, Public Grievances and Pension, V Narayaswamy at 2 pm today. The delay is being attributed the delay in supplying copies of the bill to members of the house.
Today morning as soon as proceeding began a section of MPs led by Lalu Prasad Yadav stomred into the well of the house demanding that minorities be given reservation in Lokpal.
The Bahujan Samaj Party is also protesting against the Lokpal Bill but there demand is that CBI and group C employees be brought under the CBI.
Amid the din, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the house till 2 pm.
The anti-graft legislation is likely to be discussed during Parliament`s extended session on December 27.
The Lokpal Bill tabled in the Parliament has recommended conferring constitutional status on Lokpal and Lokayukta. Also, the Lokpal will be chosen by a selection committee consisting of PM, Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition in LS, CJI or his nominee (Supreme Court judge) and an eminent jurist nominated by President.
While the Lokpal will receive complaints against ministers, any sitting or previous members of Parliament and government servants under all categories, the ombudsman will not have CBI under its purview.
Meanwhile, Anna, who has already threatened to go on a three-day fast, has rejected the bill as a betrayal of the people and said the legislation would not provide for a strong anti-graft institution.
He has challenged UPA chairperson for a debate on Lokpal and said that he will call for a jail bharo from outside the Congress chairperson’s residence in Delhi.
Anna wondered how the proposed bill could be described as strong when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was being kept outside the ombudsman`s ambit.
Yesterday, Sonia had said that there was a "deliberate and malicious misinformation" campaign that the Congress was not tackling corruption.
