Lok Sabha passes Lokpal Bill; Anna ends his fast
19 Dec 2013 6:03 AM IST
Anti-graft activist Anna Hazare and his supporters celebrated the passing of the bill in Ralegan Siddhi. Hazare also ended his nine-day fast after the bill was passed. ‘Other than the Samajwadi Party, I salute all MPs who helped pass the bill,’ said Hazare.
The lower house had allotted four hours to debate the bill, which provides for a powerful national ombudsman to investigate wrongdoing in government, but wrapped it up in less than an hour and voted on it amid slogan-shouting by Andhra Pradesh MPs opposed to the creation of Telangana.
Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, targeted the Congress saying, ‘People are lining up to take credit, but there is an old man who keeps fasting for the bill and appeals to our collective conscience. And then the people of this country deserve credit.’
Swaraj said her party had opposed the earlier Lokpal Bill as it was a weak legislation, but she said she was happy that the Rajya Sabha - where the opposition is in majority - amended it suitably. She accused the government of delaying the bill despite the select committee of the Rajya Sabha having cleared it a year back.
From the treasury benches, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi urged all parties to pass the bill. ‘We have the chance to make history,’ said Gandhi. He went on to say, ‘Lokpal Bill alone is not enough to fight corruption. What we need is a comprehensive anti-corruption code.
The UPA government has prepared an anti-corruption framework. Eight new central laws have been brought. We should complete the unfinished work of fighting corruption. Also six anti-corruption bills are pending. If necessary, can we not extend this session of Parliament?’
Lokpal welcome bill for corrupt: AAP
Expressing disagreement with Hazare, the Aam Adami Party (AAP) on Wednesday termed the Lokpal bill as a ‘welcome bill’ for corrupt politicians. ‘It is a bad day for social activism in the country. It is a welcome bill for every corrupt politician,’ AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said. 'The bill is a betrayal to the promise made to the people at Ramlila Maidan. It is an attempt by the BJP and the Congress to divert the attention of the people from corruption,’ he added.
The lower house had allotted four hours to debate the bill, which provides for a powerful national ombudsman to investigate wrongdoing in government, but wrapped it up in less than an hour and voted on it amid slogan-shouting by Andhra Pradesh MPs opposed to the creation of Telangana.
Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, targeted the Congress saying, ‘People are lining up to take credit, but there is an old man who keeps fasting for the bill and appeals to our collective conscience. And then the people of this country deserve credit.’
Swaraj said her party had opposed the earlier Lokpal Bill as it was a weak legislation, but she said she was happy that the Rajya Sabha - where the opposition is in majority - amended it suitably. She accused the government of delaying the bill despite the select committee of the Rajya Sabha having cleared it a year back.
From the treasury benches, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi urged all parties to pass the bill. ‘We have the chance to make history,’ said Gandhi. He went on to say, ‘Lokpal Bill alone is not enough to fight corruption. What we need is a comprehensive anti-corruption code.
The UPA government has prepared an anti-corruption framework. Eight new central laws have been brought. We should complete the unfinished work of fighting corruption. Also six anti-corruption bills are pending. If necessary, can we not extend this session of Parliament?’
Lokpal welcome bill for corrupt: AAP
Expressing disagreement with Hazare, the Aam Adami Party (AAP) on Wednesday termed the Lokpal bill as a ‘welcome bill’ for corrupt politicians. ‘It is a bad day for social activism in the country. It is a welcome bill for every corrupt politician,’ AAP leader Kumar Vishwas said. 'The bill is a betrayal to the promise made to the people at Ramlila Maidan. It is an attempt by the BJP and the Congress to divert the attention of the people from corruption,’ he added.
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