With the BJP, Left and Team Anna disappointed with the government over the Lokpal Bill. The Parliament has extended its session till December 29, with the pressing demand of Anna the Bill be passed in this session of the Parliament itself.
The passing of the Lokpal bill at the winter session of the Parliament which is proposed to end in less than a week, on December 22nd appears to be not viable as the deadlock over the Lokpal bill continues. In the all-party meeting held on Wednesday night presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Sigh consensus on the controversial issues could not be reached as all the major political parties stood by their stand on the key issues.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, which has been examining the Lokpal Bill draft, Mr. Abhishek Singhvi has said that there would be no delay except of a “couple of days” for the Committee to submit the report on the anti-graft Lokpal bill before the Union Parliament. Singhvi who met with the media after his meeting with the Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari told the media said that is the report is adopted the following day, the bill is likely to be tabled in the Parliament within the next two or three days. Singhvi further added that the time extension is technical as it is rudimentarily for translation and printing of the bill and this cannot be expressed as a delay in the real sense.
The anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has held the intervention by Rahul Gandhi responsible for the exclusion of the lower bureaucracy from the ambit of the Lokpal bill draft. Anna Hazare has accused Mr. Gandhi of meddling with the Parliamentary Committee which has allegedly caused the Committee to reverse its earlier decision to include Group C staff under the ambit of Lokpal. He has admitted that he does not possess any evidence to prove this allegation against Rahul Gandhi but also stated that there cannot be smoke without any fire when asked by the media.
Lok Pal Committee makes Last minute reversal of its decision by excluding Group C government employees. Lok Pal Committee is back to the starting point yet again. They have refused to include Group C employees within the ambit of the Lok Pal. A day ago the Committee had recommended the inclusion of almost 70 per cent of the government employees under the Lok Pal but it has suddenly taken a U-turn and now does not advocate the inclusion of Group C employees but only the Group A and B employees which consist of only the top-most bureaucrats. It is significant to note that these Group C staffs constitute 60 per cent of the government employees. Without the inclusion of this section of government officials, the Lok Pal will remain as a meaningless and toothless weapon in the hands of the people. The Committee reversed its decision within 24 hours of its last recommendation to include the Group C staffs.
The Lokpal bill has been brought before the parliament previously for almost 6 times. But it bill failed to take the shape of an act. The current Lokpal bill led by Anna Hazare is lying in deadlock due to some obvious reasons. First of the entire Lokpal bill drafted by the government states that the Lokpal will not have any sue motto powers and it cannot take complaints directly from public. The complaint should be forwarded by the chairman of Loksabha or Rajya sabha. But, this is being opposed by team Anna as to the Lokpal should have sue motto powers and they should be able to take complaints directly from public .If this is not taken care then Lokpal will be always effected by the ruling party. Secondly, according to government Lokpal should be an advisory body and should work in co-ordination with the competatent authority. On the other hand team Anna doesn’t want Lokpal to be an advisory body, as if such will be the case then prime minister will never allow initiating action against himself.
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rashant Bhushan, the lawyer activist of Team Anna had been attacked on Wednesday, 12th October in his Supreme Court chamber, leaving the nation in shock. He was getting ready for a TV interview when three people dressed in lawyer’s gown barged into his chamber and assaulted him. The assaulter had entered the chamber claiming they had got prior appointment. Mr Bhushan had been immediately taken to hospital. After condemning right wing, Sri Ram Sene for the assault on him, Bhushan insisted a ban on such organizations that exercise goondaism.
The Government on Sunday has agreed to make the audio recordings of JanLokpal drafting committee meetings available to public. With this move the debate between the government and Anna Hazare’s team will be out in the public domain after a month the parliament finally decided to enact an effective Lokpal. This will bring transparency and restore people’s faith in the government. However sources say that only selective portion of committee proceedings will be exhibited. Elements not encroaching on the jurisdiction or working of the Parliamentary Standing Committee presently analyzing the bill will be made available whereas nothing that will embarrass the government will be made public.