Lok Sabha passes Lokpal Bill: As it happened

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the historic Lokpal Bill, a day after it was passed by the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for setting up of an ombudsman to battle corruption in the government and among public servants.

Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

1.20 pm: `People need to be vigilant, only law will not help` "People have to be vigilant. Only then will they benefit from this law," says Anna Hazare minutes before ending his fast. Anna also suggests creating a watchdog to check corruption. "We want to form committees of retired judges, top cops to suggest and monitor the implementation of Lokpal. Only a law will not help. We have to see how the Lokpal is implemented. Thank the media for playing its role as a strong fourth pillar that is necessary for any democracy. Lokpal must now become a law before the Lok Sabha polls," says Anna Hazare while addressing a press conference at Ralegan Siddhi. 1.10 pm: Anna thanks MPs, supporters Anna Hazare thanks government and MPs for passing the Lokpal Bill. "I want to thank Parliament`s Select Committee for strengthening the Lokpal Bill. All parties supported this Lokpal Bill for the benefit of the society, the country, I thank them. Through this Lokpal Bill 40-50% corruption can be controlled, poor will get justice, "says Anna. "Other than those from Samajwadi Party, I salute all MPs in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha for giving us this anti-corruption law," says Anna. 1.05 pm: Team Anna celebrates passage of Lokpal Bill Minutes after the Lok Sabha passed the historic Lokpal Bill, celebrations began at Anna Hazare`s fast venue in Ralegn Siddhi. Anna Hazare was seen waving tricolour, his supporters raised slogans. 12.55 pm: Lokpal Bill passed amid din Lokpal Bill is passed with voice vote in Lok Sabha despite protests by SP MPs. Celebrations erupt at Anna Hazare`s fast venue in Ralegan Siddhi. After the passage of the Lokpal Bill, Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die. 12. 50 pm: Voting on Lokpal Bill begins in LS Voting on Lokpal Bill begins in Lok Sabha amid huge protests from the SP MPs. 12.40 pm: JD (U) slams UPA, backs Lokpal Bill JDU chief Sharad Yadav slams UPA government for dilly dallying on the Lokpal Bill but says his party extends full support to the bill. 12.35 pm: SP members walk out of LS SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his party MPs walk out of Lok Sabha over Lokpal Bill. 12.30 pm: SP opposes Lokpal Bill SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav urges Sonia Gandhi, PM to speak up and withdraw Lokpal Bill. Lokpal Bill will allow a cop to come and heckle us, says Mulayam Singh Yadav. "Lokpal Bill is a dangerous bill, it will paralyse decision making," SP chief says. 12.25 pm: Rahul urges political parties to support Lokpal Bill Addressing the Lok Sabha, Congress VP Rahul Gandhi says, "I appeal to all political parties to support the Lokpal Bill." Can we not extend this Parliament session to pass other bills aimed at fighting corruption, Rahul asks. The 15th Lok Sabha should pass the six bills that are pending, stresses Rahul Gandhi 12.22 pm: `Credit for pushing Lokpal Bill goes to Anna` "A race has begun to take credit for pushing the Lokpal Bill but it should go to the old and fragile man Anna Hazare, who has been fasting for so many days to press for a competent anti-corruption legislation, says BJP leader. 12.20 pm: BJP slams Congress allies for disruptions in Parliament Initiating the debate, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj says, "It will be a historic moment if the Lokpal Bill is passed today." She slams the UPA allies for creating ruckus and wasting valuable time of Parliament. "Glad that Rajya Sabha has passed the Lokpal Bill, but this time it is not the Opposition but the Congress allies who have created ruckus in Parliament and repeated disruptions," she says. 12.15 pm: Debate on Lokpal Bill begins Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal tables Lokpal Bill on the floor of the Lower House, SP MPs raise slogans. 12.00 pm: Lok Sabha reconvenes After being adjourned for half -n-hour, the Lower House assembled again to debate the Lokpal Bill. 11.50 am: BSP to back Lokpal Bill in LS We will extend all possible support in Lok Sabha to pass the Lokpal Bill, says BSP chief Mayawati. 11.15 am: `Nation waiting for a competent Lokpal` "People of the country are waiting for a competent Lokpal," says Anna Hazare, whose fats for a strong anti-corruption legislation enters ninth day today. | 11.10: Lok Sabha adjourned till noon after ruckus Shortly after the Lower house met for the day, Opposition MPs created ruckus over Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade`s inappropriate detention in the US that forced the Chair o adjourn the session till noon. 10.10 am: Kiran Bedi appeals MPs to pass Lokpal Bill "I appeal Lok Sabha to pass the Lokpal Bill so that Anna can end his fast by today evening," Kiran Bedi`s tweet says. 10.05 am: `BJP eager to see Lokpal Bill passed in LS` "BJP is committed to a strong & effective Lokpal. Yesterday Lokpal Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha. We are eagerly waiting to pass it in Lok Sabha," says Shahnawaz Hussain. 9.55 am: Shivraj praises UPA for pushing Lokpal Bill MP Chief Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan today tweeted, "Happy to see UPA acknowledging the public mood and pushing for Lokpal bill." "People need transparency and accountability in governance, " Chouhan`s tweet said. 9.50 am: SP says it will oppose Lokpal Bill in LS We will oppose this Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha as well, says Shailendra Kumar of Samajwadi Party. A day after the Rajya Sabha passed the much-delayed Lokpal Bill, paving the way for setting up of an ombudsman to battle corruption in the government and among public servants, the Lok Sabha is set to debate the same on Wednesday. A four-hour debate is expected to take place in the Lok Sabha today on the Lokpal Bill, followed by a vote on it. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill 2011 were passed by voice vote yesterday in the Rajya Sabha at the end of over five-hours of debate that saw political parties broadly supporting the legislation but saying it must be more effective. The bill, which got passed, was pending in the Rajya Sabha for almost two years as opposition members had reservations on the draft passed by the Lok Sabha in December 2011. A select committee had examined the bill in detail and given its recommendations, many of which were incorporated by the government in the amended bill tabled in the Rajya Sabha last week. Also Read: Key provisions of the amended Lokpal Bill cleared by Rajya Sabha The Lokpal bill has hogged national limelight after activist Anna Hazare led a massive protest involving hundreds of thousands in the capital in 2011. Hazare is again on fast in his village in Maharashtra for the past eight days but has promised to call it off after the Lokpal legislation is enacted. Apart from establishing Lokpal in New Delhi, the bill provides for creation of Lokayuktas in states within a year of the notification of the law. The states will be sent a model bill to frame their own laws.