Lokpal Bill discussion in Rajya Sabha on Monday

There couldn't be any talks on Friday as they were repeatedly disrupted by members of Samajwadi Party

The government today managed to table the amended Lokpal bill in the Rajya Sabha but was unable to complete discussion on it after proceedings were repeatedly disrupted by members of the Samajwadi Party. The SP is wholly opposed to the Lokpal bill and has even threatened to pull out its (outside) support should the government go ahead with the bill. Opposition BJP did not waste the opportunity and accused the Congress led UPA of “not being interested” in getting the bill passed as it was doing little to restrain its ally the SP from stalling the bill. The BJP has even publicly committed to help the pass the bill in the din, if need be.  

Significantly although the bill was not initially listed to be taken up in this session, Anna Hazare’s ongoing fast demanding that the Jan Lokpal bill be enacted and the advent of the Aam Aadmi Party had forced the government hand in bringing in the bill. The amended bill has accepted the 13 amendments put forward by the Select committee; the BJP however is adamant on inclusion of two more amendments.  

Since morning the house was repeatedly adjourned on different issues ranging from Telangana to price rise and when the bill was first taken up at noon, the SP members objected demanding that the house take up a discussion on price rise first. Thereafter the Rajya Sabha was adjourned two more times after which it had to be finally adjourned for the day at 3.30 pm.

While the SP is opposing to the bill, the BSP, the NCP and JD(U) have extended their support for the bill. The Congress party had issued a whip asking all their members to be present.

As Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy moved the amended Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 and started speaking on it, Samajwadi Party members trooped into the Well and raised slogans. With these repeated disruptions, the politics played out even outside the house with both sides the Congress and Opposition trading charges.  

Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi speaking to reporters pleaded helplessness while BJP’s Ravi Sahnakar Prasad accused the government of indulging in a “fixed match.” Prasad alleged had the government been really keen on the bill it would have got the disrupting MPs removed and pass the bill.

While the government has accepted 13 amendments, it has however not accept a recommendation that a public servant would get no chance to present his view before preliminary inquiry is initiated.  

It also has not accepted the recommendation that transfer of CBI officers assigned by Lokpal to investigate a case cannot be transferred without the approval of the anti-graft watchdog, saying it will affect the smooth functioning of CBI.

After protests from several quarters, the government had amended the controversial Lokpal bill delinking it from the setting up of Lokayuktas in the states and transferring powers of sanction of prosecution against public servant to the ombudsman.  The Union Cabinet had accepted most of the recommendations made by the Rajya Sabha Select Committee. The committee was set up in May last year amidst sharp differences among political parties holding up the bill in Rajya Sabha since December 2011. Only after being passed in the upper House, the bill with amendments will go back for fresh approval to Lok Sabha where it has already been passed.

The bill will once again be taken up the house on Monday.