Congress threatens mass protest over Jan Lokpal

Delhi state Congress chief Ajay Maken on Monday warned of mass protest if the Jan Lokpal Bill was not passed in the winter session of the Delhi assembly starting on November 18.

Reacting to an IANS report that the anti-graft legislation was unlikely to be tabled in the winter session, contrary to the promise made by the Aam Aadmi Party government, Maken said the bill was repeatedly delayed.

"We will hold a massive demonstration outside the Delhi assembly on November 18, demanding that the Jan Lokpal Bill should be passed in the winter session itself," Maken said.

The AAP has a nearly full house in the Delhi assembly -- holding 67 of the 70 seats in the house.

Maken, a former union minister, said though six assembly sessions have been held, there has been no discussion about the introduction of the bill.

"There was a reported move not to take up the Jan Lokpal Bill in the winter session," he added.

Maken also said he has written to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the issue.

"It is also quite ironical that a party that had quit the government on the issue of delay in enacting the Jan Lokpal bill has failed to even get the basic clearance from its own cabinet despite nine months in power in its second term," he said in a letter to the chief minister.

"Especially, after making high pitch about the same during elections and repeated personal assurance by your good-self, such unexplained delay is a blatant betrayal to the people of Delhi," Maken added.