Lokpal bill to be introduced in Lok Sabha Thursday

New Delhi: The Lokpal bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.

"The Lokpal bill will be introduced on Thursday. We have already given notice but there are certain requirements about the preparation of the bill as it has not been circulated," Bansal told reporters outside the Parliament House Tuesday.

"Members have to receive the copies. They will get the copies tomorrow (Wednesday). In all probability, it (bill) will be introduced the day after (Thursday)."

Bansal said as all parties are in favour of introducing the draft bill at the earliest, the government has written to the speaker to waive off the two-day period required to distribute copies of any new bill to all political parties to enable them to study it.

Earlier, in the day, Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy gave the notice to the speaker.

"Our paperwork is complete. We have written to the speaker and it is up to her to take a decision," Narayanasamy told reporters.

The bill was finalised by the central government July 28 after months of meetings, debates and on occasions acrimony between the representatives of civil rights activists, led by social activist Anna Hazare, and the ministers.

Although, the activists wanted a strong Lokpal which brings the prime minister and higher judiciary within its ambit, the government kept them out of it. The government also kept parliamentarians' conduct inside the house out of the purview of the Lokpal.

On Tuesday, Hazare also wrote an open letter to parliamentarians seeking their support.

In his letter, Hazare has urged MPs to ask for a strong Lokpal and slammed the government version of the bill.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also reiterated that it wants a strong Lokpal that covers the prime minister.

"We are in favour of a strong Lokpal which has the prime minister in its ambit," BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.

The BJP leader, however, added that the party will disclose its stand on the other aspects of the bill after it is tabled in the two houses during the current session.

"When the debate on the bill takes place, we will disclose our stand," he said.

The government in its draft has said that the prime minister can be probed but after he demits office and with a time limitation of seven years.

The Lokpal, consisting of a chairperson and eight members, half of them judicial, will have its own prosecution and investigation wings with officers and staff to carry out its functions.

Hazare has threatened that if the government does not come out with a strong Lokpal, he would go on hunger strike again starting Aug 16.

Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Storm on first day of monsoon session

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday urged the opposition to allow parliament function smoothly but the very first day of the month-long monsoon session indicated that a storm lay ahead.   »

BJP upset at PM's attack

Land bill may come up in parliament's winter session

  Most Read

India to begin Ramadan from August 02

The holy month of Ramadan will begin in India from tomorrow, August 02, 2011 as the confirmed reports of moon sighting are reported from various parts of the country. "Sighting of  »

BJP attacks PM, says he 'micro managed' 2G

Targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the opening of parliament's monsoon session, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday accused him of "micro  »

BJP attack linked to terror probe: Chidambaram

  News Pick

NIA still part of Mumbai blast probe: Chidambaram

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was still a part of the probe into the July 13 Mumbai serial blasts, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday, dismissing reports that India's premier anti-terror  »

Guru Granth Sahib University VC shot at, injured

The vice chancellor of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib University (SGGSU), launched in this Sikh holy city last week, was shot at and seriously injured by two assailants here, police said. Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia was rushed to a  »

Five killed, 20 injured in Manipur blast

At least five people were killed and 20 injured in a powerful explosion Monday at a crowded marketplace in the capital of India's restive northeastern state of Manipur, officials said. A police spokesperson said the blast took place   »

Iran oil payment row with India ‘resolved’

Iran’s oil payments row with India has been resolved before any interruption in crude exports to its second-biggest customer, the Iranian Oil Ministry’s website  »

Picture of the Day

Jamia Millia Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jang conferring the title 'Nishan-e-Azad' on Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Faisal Hasan Trad on July 20, 2011.