SP walks out of Rajya Sabha against Lokpal bill

The party said that the bill was not in public interest

The Samajwadi Party Tuesday walked out of the Rajya Sabha protesting the Lokpal bill, saying the legislation is not in "public interest".

Opposing the bill in the upper house, Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav said it will take the country towards a state of indecision as all would be afraid of the Lokpal.

"This bill is not in public interest. In this bill, any person can put in a complaint and we will have to go to police officers investigating the matter to give our statement. The lawmakers in that case will hesitate to take any decisions," Ramgopal Yadav said.

"This bill will lead to no work. Officers will hesitate in taking up work...Do you want to take the nation towards a state of indecision?" Yadav said.

"It is very important that a full discussion is held on the Lokpal bill. We will not be a part of this discussion, we are walking out," he added.

Debate on the anti-graft legislation was taken up by the upper house after SP members walked out.

The SP is now the only party which is opposing the Lokpal bill, as all other parties are on board.

The breakthrough came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi met with SP chief Mulayam Singh.

SP members disrupted the upper house Friday, not allowing the debate to be taken up.