Lok Pal Bill: Trinamool hints it may act tough

As government prepared to table the Lok Pal Bill in Rajya Sabha, its key partner Trinamool Congress today indicated that it could act difficult as it had objections to the provision on setting up of Lokayuktas in states.

The six Rajya Sabha members of the party met at the residence of Mukul Roy here today to discuss the issue ahead of the Bill coming up in the House.

One of MPs later said the party did not favour any attempt to tamper with the federal structure and wanted it clearly specified in the Lok Pal Bill.

The party has objection to the provision in the Bill which makes it mandatory for states to set up Lokayuktas.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukhjerjee last night told Lok Sabha that the government was amending it to specify that the notification in this regard would not be issued without the consent of states.

However, the Trinamool Congress is waiting to see the language in this regard in the Bill.

"We will make our stand clear only after the Bill is tabled in the Rajya Sabha," Roy, Minister of State for Shipping, told PTI.

A Trinamool MP said his party does not support any move that will affect the federal structure.

"As so many amendments have been moved, we have to see in what form the bill is brought in the Rajya Sabha," he said, adding, "We are opposed to any tampering with the federal structure."