New Delhi: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee,
government's principal trouble-shooter, is expected to lead
the UPA charge during discussion on the much talked about
Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Mukherjee, who was the co-chair of the Joint Drafting
Committee, is expected to intervene during the eight-hour-long
debate on Lokpal Bill, government sources said on Monday.
When Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy
introduced the Bill, Mukherjee had, in his reply to a brief
debate, shrugged off allegations that government was bringing
the Bill in haste following pressure by Anna Hazare.
He had also told the opposition parties that it was up to
the judiciary to sit on judgement on the provision to provide
not less than 50 per cent reservation to SC, STs, OBC, women
and minorities in the Lokpal Bench and its Search Committee.
Mukherjee has been involved with the Lokpal issue since
early this year and had co-chaired the Joint Drafting
Committee comprising ministers and Team Anna members in
framing the measure.
After a Parliamentary Committee made its recommendations
on Lokpal Bill, the Finance Minister had also helped the
Ministry of Personnel to fine tune the fresh bill which was
cleared by the Union Cabinet last week for introduction in Lok
Sabha.
When the Parliamentary panel was scrutinising the Bill, he
had also met with members of various political parties on the
issue.
PTI
First Published: Monday, December 26, 2011, 20:07