UPA to bring amended Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha on Monday

New Delhi: The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government will bring the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Monday despite opposition from parties like the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The Cabinet is meeting on Thursday evening and is likely to clear the amended Lokpal Bill. The amendments in the Bill include changes in the Lokpal removal provision and on setting up of Lokayuktas.

The government has agreed to let the states decide on Lokayuktas. According to the amendment the Lokpal can be removed if 100 MPs complain to the President. Opposition parties as well as UPA constituent Trinamool Congress had raised objections to several provisions of the present Lokpal Bill.

Once approved by the Cabinet, the amended Lokpal Bill will be sent to the joint Parliamentary panel for its approval.

The sticky points that may make the passage of bill difficult are:

1) The appointment of the Lokpal head is still government centric.

2) The control of appointment of the CBI Director remains with the government.

The government had on Wednesday said it intended 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 had said.

He had said efforts were 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."

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.

(With additional information from PTI)

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