New Delhi: On the eve of consideration of
Lokpal Bill by the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool Congress on Wednesday mounted difficulties on the government by giving notice for
amendment to the crucial legislation in which it wants
references to formation of Lokayuktas to be dropped.
Trinamool, which has six members in the Rajya Sabha,
decided to push for the amendment after it got no convincing
assurance on its demand during a meeting of its three leaders
with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
During the meeting where Parliamentary Affairs Minister P
K Bansal and MoS for DoPT V Narayanasamy were also present,
the Trinamool leaders Mukul Roy, Sudip Bandhopadhyay and Derek
O Brien sought deletion of the clauses 63 to 97, which have
reference to Lokayukta formation by states.
However, the government side gave no assurance but said
he would make a mention.
After the meeting, the Trinamool Parliamentary Party held
a meeting and its chief Mamata Banerjee was briefed on the
developments, Derek O Brien said.
"I had given notice for amendment at 3.30 PM. After the
Parliamentary Party meeting, it was decided that we should go
ahead with the notice for amendment," he said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 23:08