NEW DELHI, Dec 16: With the Lokpal bill slated to come up in Rajya Sabha tomorrow, a near unanimity emerged at an all-party meeting here today, but UPA’s outside supporter Samajwadi Party remained a stumbling block continuing its Opposition to the anti-corruption measure.
With an aim of breaking the logjam over the bill, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari convened an urgent meeting which was boycotted by Samajwadi Party, saying it was opposed to it as the “whole decision-making process will come to a standstill”.
BSP, which has openly declared its support for the proposed legislation, and DMK were also not present at the meeting. BSP leaders later clarified that the meeting coincided with their national executive meeting here.
After the meeting, which lasted for over half-an-hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said all parties that attended the meeting today were unanimous that the bill be passed tomorrow.
Asked about absence of representatives from some parties at the meeting, he said they were unable to attend it due to some reasons and the Government will try and reach out to them.
“We discussed expeditious passing of the Lokpal bill. All parties, except the Samajwadi Party which was not present in the meeting, have expressed a desire that the bill should be passed under all circumstances tomorrow.
“All parties will continue to persuade the Samajwadi Party to join in, in passing of the bill and not to obstruct the functioning of the House,” Nath told reporters after the meeting.
During the discussions, sources said, NDA leaders agreed to passage of the bill even amid the din, but were unanimous that marshals should not be used to usher out those opposing the measure in the House.
The Opposition is learnt to have been working with the Government on the issue of bringing certain amendments in the bill after the Select Committee recommendations.
Sources said that the Government has agreed to BJP’s demand that it would not transfer any CBI official probing cases referred to by the Lokpal, without the consent of the anti-corruption ombudsman.
SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, however, said his Party was opposed to the bill and will continue with its stand.
“We are opposed to the Lokpal bill. We are of the opinion that if this bill comes in force, no Minister, no bureaucrat will sign on any file. The whole decision-making process will come to a standstill,” he said.
BJP leader Prakash Javadekar hit out at Congress for showing double standards and alleged that the ruling party is not showing alacrity and intentions in pursuading SP, which has supported their Government for over 9 years.
“Today, the question is about the Centre’s intent. If the Centre’s intentions about Lokpal are clear, would they then not be in a position to influence Samajwadi Party, which has rescued them for nine-and-a-half years?
“When it is required, all these parties vote for them and only on issues like women’s reservation, Lokpal, they oppose them. It is obvious that the Centre’s intentions are not clear,” Javadekar said.
Those who attended the all-party meeting included Arun Jaitley (BJP), Naresh Gujral (SAD), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), V Maitreyan (AIADMK), Derek O’Brien (TMC), N K Singh (JD-U), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI) and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD).
Meanwhile, in a sharp rebuff to Arvind Kejriwal’s criticism that the Lokpal bill in its present form was incapable of sending to jail even a mouse, Anna Hazare today said the legislation was good enough to ensnare a lion.
“You are talking about mouse. I feel the bill has provisions to trap even a lion,” Hazare, whose indefinite hunger strike to press for passage of the Lokpal bill in Parliament entered the seventh day today, said at Ralegan Siddhi.
Hazare’s snub to Kejriwal came on a day Government reaffirmed its commitment to passing the bill, saying it was its “highest priority” and that it was prepared to even extend the Winter Session of Parliament for that.
Rajya Sabha was to take up the bill today but could not owing to death of Union Labour and Employment Minister Sis Ram Ola.
“The Lokpal bill is the highest priority of the Government. It is a historical bill for the country… The nation needs it… We want both the Houses of Parliament to pass it in this session.
“If needed, we will extend the Parliament session. If required we are also ready to sit till late hours to pass it….The Lokpal bill is a very important priority for the Government”, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said after a Congress Core Group meeting attended by the Prime Minister and party chief to chalk out a strategy for passage of the bill.
Hazare said his life had been blemish free. “I don’t have a single blot on my character,” he said.
Paying tributes to last year’s Delhi gang rape victim, Hazare said: “All women are our mothers and sisters. We should look at them in a similar manner.”
Hazare paid tributes to the martyrs of Bangladesh war and also Ola.
Meanwhile, Hazare’s aide Suresh Pathare said that he has lost 4.3kg since the fast began.
While Hazare has praised the amended draft Lokpal bill presented in the Rajya Sabha, his one time protege Arvind Kejriwal has dismissed it as a “jokepal”.
Addressing a press conference in Ralegan Siddhi yesterday, Hazare had said: “I accept it completely. If this bill is passed, I will end my fast. The bill will help the poor people of this country”.
Hazare has requested the Samajwadi Party, which is opposed to the bill, to back the legislation. “I am confident that all Parties will support it, and it will be passed,” he said. (PTI)
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