Lucknow: The Lokpal Bill would be
introduced in the first week of the Monsoon session of
Parliament, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs
Rajeev Shukla said on Saturday.
"The government will introduce the Lokpal Bill passed
by the cabinet in the very first week of the Monsoon session,"
Shukla told reporters here.
On members of civil society opposing the government`s
bill, he said it should be left on the wisdom of the
Parliament as to what type of bill it should be.
"Those who are opposing the bill should wait for the
Parliament`s decision first before calling it a `jokepal`
bill," he said.
The minister said that Parliament`s decision is not
that of one party alone.
"The government is bringing an effective Lokpal Bill.
It is not possible for one party or a person to decide what
type of a bill it should be," he said.
When questioned about Anna Hazare`s proposed agitation
on the issue of Lokpal Bill from August 16, he said that
government does not prevent the people from staging dharna or
demonstration as it`s their democratic right.
However, whether dharna should be allowed at Jantar
Mantar or Rajghat, it should be left on the wisdom of Delhi
police as many factors are to be taken into consideration, he
said.
When asked whether the police were going soft against
Amar Singh in cash for vote controversy, Shukla said there was
no interference from the government.
"The government is neither protecting nor framing
anyone," he said. When asked about some Muslim organisations opposing
Right To Education Act, Shukla said it`s a good concept which
should be implemented to promote education among poor.
"If they have certain reservations, it would be sorted
out. Union Minister Kapil Sibal is already working on it," he
said.
Regarding upcoming polls in UP, he said that the party
is heading in a right direction.
"In Lok Sabha polls the party was being written off
and nobody was giving us more than 10 seats, but we won 22
seats. I feel nothing is impossible," he said.
He said that the credit goes to the party and Rahul
Gandhi for fighting for the cause of common people and
farmers.
"Congress is the only party in the state which has
launched a sustained campaign against the UP government," he
said.
On delay in announcement of candidates, Shukla said
that not much should be read into it.
"Every party has its own strategy, some announce
candidates early and some later. Not much should be read into
it," he said.
PTI
