Efforts on to get parties on board Lokpal Bill

The government today said it intends to get the Lokpal Bill passed in both Houses of Parliament for which it is trying to bring all political parties on board.

'It is the intention of the government to bring the Bill in Parliament, both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to pass it,' Minister of State in PMO V Narayansamy told PTI.

He said efforts are afoot to evolve a consensus on some issues along with other parties.

'One thing we would like to make very clear is that Congress and its allies don't have sufficient numbers in the Rajya Sabha. We have to carry all political parties along and we are working in that direction,' the Minister said.

Reiterating that the anti-corruption Bill will be introduced in the ongoing Budget session, Narayanasamy said, 'Government is trying to bring the Bill in the later part of the session. Our Parliamentary Affairs Minister also said that. We are working on that.'

'So far we have completed discussion with 13 parties in Rajya Sabha and some differences which were there on certain issues, have been narrowed down,' he said.

Maintaining that the government's intention was very clear on the Lokpal Bill, the Minister charged political parties with having their own agendas.

However, he hoped the remaining differences with other parties on the issue will be sorted out.

'In a political system, we cannot expect differences to narrow down easily. Every political party has got its own agenda. But as far as we are concerned, as a government, it is our duty to talk to them, bring them around and try to get the bill passed. We are working on that line and we would like to make it as early as possible,' Narayanasamy added.