New Delhi, December 27 (Agencies): Lok Sabha on Tuesday night passed the Lokpal Bill with amendments by voice vote with the Left parties, SP and BSP walking out in protest before the voting. This was one of the most hotly debated bills both inside and outside Parliament in recent times. The bill now needs a nod from the Rajya Sabha before it is enacted as a law. The Rajya Sabha will be debating the contentious issue Wednesday.
The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 was approved after the government moved a few other key amendments, including keeping the defence forces and coast guard personnel out of the purview of the anti-graft ombudsman and increasing the exemption time of former MPs from five to seven years.
A number of amendments moved by Opposition, including corporates, media and NGOs receiving donations, were defeated. Samajwadi Party and BSP staged a walkout, protesting against their demands not being met.
During the animated over 10-hour debate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked parties to “rise above partisan politics” to demonstrate to the people of the country that “this House means business” in its effort to combat corruption. He said a “holistic” approach was needed to deal with the “cancer” of corruption but rejected demands for bringing CBI under the purview of Lokpal as he warned that no entity should be created inconsistent with the Constitutional framework. The Prime Minister said: “I believe that the CBI should function independently of the Lokpal. I also believe that the CBI should function independently of the government. But independent does not mean absence of accountability.”
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate, the Prime Minister said the bill “lives up to the promise that members of this house collectively made to the people of the country by the way of ‘sense of house’”. “It (passage of the bill) is a serious business and must eventually be performed by all of us who have been constitutionally assigned. Others can persuade and their voices heard, but the decision must rest with us,” Singh said.
Singh remarked that bureaucracy has been “at the receiving end” and all bureaucrats and politicians should not be perceived as corrupt. “In the course of this debate, bureaucracy has been at the receiving end. I don’t think that all public functionaries need to be painted with the same brush just as all politicians should not be presumed to be dishonest or corrupt,” he said, receiving thunderous response from MPs. “There are some very special moments in the life of the nation. This is one of them that how collective wisdom of this august house will be reflected in the debate on Lokpal and Lakayuktas,” he added.
Capping the 10-hour animated debate during which several parties, including BJP, BJD, JDU, RJD, SP, TDP and Left said the bill was weak and wanted it withdrawn, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee rejected the contention that the legislation had been brought in “haste” or under pressure.
The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 was approved after the government moved a few other key amendments, including keeping the defence forces and coast guard personnel out of the purview of the anti-graft ombudsman and increasing the exemption time of former MPs from five to seven years.
A number of amendments moved by Opposition, including corporates, media and NGOs receiving donations, were defeated. Samajwadi Party and BSP staged a walkout, protesting against their demands not being met.
During the animated over 10-hour debate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked parties to “rise above partisan politics” to demonstrate to the people of the country that “this House means business” in its effort to combat corruption. He said a “holistic” approach was needed to deal with the “cancer” of corruption but rejected demands for bringing CBI under the purview of Lokpal as he warned that no entity should be created inconsistent with the Constitutional framework. The Prime Minister said: “I believe that the CBI should function independently of the Lokpal. I also believe that the CBI should function independently of the government. But independent does not mean absence of accountability.”
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate, the Prime Minister said the bill “lives up to the promise that members of this house collectively made to the people of the country by the way of ‘sense of house’”. “It (passage of the bill) is a serious business and must eventually be performed by all of us who have been constitutionally assigned. Others can persuade and their voices heard, but the decision must rest with us,” Singh said.
Singh remarked that bureaucracy has been “at the receiving end” and all bureaucrats and politicians should not be perceived as corrupt. “In the course of this debate, bureaucracy has been at the receiving end. I don’t think that all public functionaries need to be painted with the same brush just as all politicians should not be presumed to be dishonest or corrupt,” he said, receiving thunderous response from MPs. “There are some very special moments in the life of the nation. This is one of them that how collective wisdom of this august house will be reflected in the debate on Lokpal and Lakayuktas,” he added.
Capping the 10-hour animated debate during which several parties, including BJP, BJD, JDU, RJD, SP, TDP and Left said the bill was weak and wanted it withdrawn, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee rejected the contention that the legislation had been brought in “haste” or under pressure.
Anna 'ready' to die
MUMBAI, December 27 (PTI): Anna Hazare on Tuesday said he will work for the betterment of the country as long as he is alive and won't mind dying to achieve his goal. Speaking at the MMRDA grounds here after starting his three-day fast demanding a strong Lokpal bill, Hazare said though he had fever, the people's support was motivating him to go on.
"I am not afraid of dying. I have decided that when I die it will be for the country and as long as I live I will work for the betterment of this country," Hazare said. "Doctors have checked me. Earlier my temperature was fine but now it has increased. But seeing you all present here motivates me and my morale increases," he added. Hazare said he has been fighting corruption for the last 35 years and though he shunned his near and dear ones for the cause, eventually the whole country became his family.
The activist arrived at the fast venue in Bandra-Kurla complex in suburban Mumbai after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue at the Juhu beach. He reached the complex with a mass of people who joined him in a rally that started from the Juhu beach.
However, alarmed by his ill health, prominent members of his team Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi appealed to him to end the hunger strike. "He has fever, let us request him to stop his fast. Anna can continue his dharna," Bedi said addressing supporters at the MMRDA ground where Hazare was sitting on fast. The 74-year-old activist was suffering from viral infection and his personal assistant Suresh Pathare had been insisting that Hazare was well and he will be sitting on fast.
Kejriwal and another close aide Manish Sisodia also requested Hazare to end his fast. Hazare, who has been suffering from cold and mild fever for the past three days, reached the grounds at around 12:30 PM after a rally from the guest house where he was staying to the ground which took over two-and-half hours. "He is a little weak as of now, but will be fit to fast from tomorrow. His blood pressure and other vital parameters are normal. He has got a little cough and cold but he is getting better," his doctor D G Pote had said yesterday.
MUMBAI, December 27 (PTI): Anna Hazare on Tuesday said he will work for the betterment of the country as long as he is alive and won't mind dying to achieve his goal. Speaking at the MMRDA grounds here after starting his three-day fast demanding a strong Lokpal bill, Hazare said though he had fever, the people's support was motivating him to go on.
"I am not afraid of dying. I have decided that when I die it will be for the country and as long as I live I will work for the betterment of this country," Hazare said. "Doctors have checked me. Earlier my temperature was fine but now it has increased. But seeing you all present here motivates me and my morale increases," he added. Hazare said he has been fighting corruption for the last 35 years and though he shunned his near and dear ones for the cause, eventually the whole country became his family.
The activist arrived at the fast venue in Bandra-Kurla complex in suburban Mumbai after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue at the Juhu beach. He reached the complex with a mass of people who joined him in a rally that started from the Juhu beach.
However, alarmed by his ill health, prominent members of his team Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi appealed to him to end the hunger strike. "He has fever, let us request him to stop his fast. Anna can continue his dharna," Bedi said addressing supporters at the MMRDA ground where Hazare was sitting on fast. The 74-year-old activist was suffering from viral infection and his personal assistant Suresh Pathare had been insisting that Hazare was well and he will be sitting on fast.
Kejriwal and another close aide Manish Sisodia also requested Hazare to end his fast. Hazare, who has been suffering from cold and mild fever for the past three days, reached the grounds at around 12:30 PM after a rally from the guest house where he was staying to the ground which took over two-and-half hours. "He is a little weak as of now, but will be fit to fast from tomorrow. His blood pressure and other vital parameters are normal. He has got a little cough and cold but he is getting better," his doctor D G Pote had said yesterday.
