6.35 pm: PM calls passing of Lokpal Bill an important step
Reacting to the passing of The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 in Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "Passing of Lokpal Bill is a landmark step."
He also congratulated his parliamentary colleagues for supporting the government in the effort.
6.10 pm Kamal Nath, Kapil Sibal hail Lokpal Bill
Union ministers Kamal Nath and Kapil Sibal welcomed the passing of the Lokpal Bill by Rajya Sabha.
"I congratulate my fellow MPs for passing Lokpal Bill. They left aside politics to pass the bill," said Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal.
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Kamal Nath said, "Lokpal Bill was the need of the hour for the growing lack of confidence in the political system."
5.54 pm: Anna Hazare hails Lokpal Bill, Rajya Sabha
Soon after Rajya Sabha passed the The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 activist Anna Hazare thanked Upper House for passing the historic bill.
"I thank all political parties who have supported this bill except for Samajwadi Party. Parliamentarians have realised that the people of the country want to fight corruption. I will break my fast after after Lok Sabha passes the bill," Hazare told reporters at his fast venue in Ralegan Siddhi.
5.48 pm: Rajya Sabha passes Lokpal Bill
5.40 pm: Clause by clause voting on The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 currently going on in Rajya Sabha
5.15 pm: Sibal thanks colleagues for Lokpal
Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal preferred to be politically polite and peacefully absorb all jibes thrown at the Congress party thrown on it while replying to questions raised by Rajya Sabha members during the discussion on The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011.
"I thank all members of the House who have more or less unanimously supported the Bill. Sometimes we have to rise above political lines. Never has a bill garnered such public interest. We must listen to the voices outside the House. I hope that the Bill creates history. We hope that every state government will frame their own Lokayukta on the model of what we pass today. It depends on the states to form their own Lokayuktas within a year or else the purpose will not be achieved," Sibal told the House.
The minister admitted that law alone is not enough to end corruption in the country.
"If we want to eliminate corruption, law alone will not suffice. Law will be a deterrent but it cannot curb the impetus of a human being to be corrupt. It is collective will of the House which has a delivered and I congratulate all of them," he said while agreeing with Janata Dal (United)'s Shivanand Tewari.
In an attempt to stand up for his recently battered party in the Assembly polls in four states, Sibal said, "There were couple of discordant notes like sharmnak defeat. No defeat is sharmnak. It is how you look at it."
3:15 pm: Ravi Shankar Prasad praises Anna Hazare for his movement
The BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad has also come out in support of the bill but has sought some minor changes in it. The MP also had a few words of congratulations for Parliament.
"Despite all the arguments, this has shows that when needed Parliament can come together to meet the nation's expectations," Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
He said that the government had failed to act against corruption in the nation.
The BJP MP also criticised the Samajwadi Party saying that their stance was flawed.
"This law has been in the pipeline since 1947 but hasn't come about...People look for us to battle against corruption," he said.
He said that through the Anna Hazare movement people had raised the demand for a Lokpal and praised the activist for his work on the issue, using the chance to make a snide remark about Arvind Kejriwal.
"There are some people who were the wind under his wings and have now climbed onto his shoulders to go onto other things," Hazare said.
However, he said that he "wished them (AAP) well".
Prasad also raised the same point as Jaitley and said that questioning a public servant before investigating them would self defeating.
"There should be fast track trials for public servants who are accused of corruption," he said. He said that given trials in the country went on for years together it made sense to fast track cases that concerned corruption.
The BJP MP also made the same point as Jaitley on having reservations for minorities in the Lokpal, but did so more loudly.
2:45 pm: Ram Vilas Paswan takes it easy
KP Ramalingam of the DMK talks about the Lokpal Bill dramatically but fails to get any attention from LJP's Ram Vilas Paswan who catches forty winks while he's waiting for someone else to speak or the vote to happen, whichever happens first.
2:40 pm: Show the same zeal to pass other legislation, says AIADMK
The AIADMK supported the Lokpal Bill but had a word of advice for the Law Minister. Rising to speak, the AIADMK MP said that the government and minister should show the same zeal and earnestness in getting a consensus on other important legislation.
"Show the same zeal for the women's reservation bill and reservations in promotions bill," V Maitreyan said.
2:20 pm: Anna Hazare's feeling very weak, continues to fast
On the tenth day of his indefinite hunger strike, veteran social activist Anna Hazare "is feeling extremely weak", and has lost 4.70 kg weight, an aide said told IANS.
"His health condition is worsening with the weight loss and the creatinine level crossing the normal levels and measured at 4-plus today (Tuesday), and the blood pressure was 142/82," Suresh Pathare told IANS shortly after Hazare's daily medical check-up Tuesday.
As a precautionary measure, the state government has converted one chamber inside the nearby Yadavbaba temple into a full-fledged intensive care unit as the 76-year-old leader has refused to call off his hunger strike till the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed by parliament.
However, Pathare said, as of now, there was no proposal to shift Hazare to the make-shift ICU, which is adjacent to the fast venue, though the attendant medical team was on high alert to tackle any eventuality.
2:25 pm: JD(U) also raises questions on Ganguly
JD(U)'s Shivanand Tiwari says that corruption has influenced all aspects of society and more needed to be done to tackle it.
He also took a potshot at Justice AK Ganguly saying that people like him could become a part of the Lokpal thanks to the spread of corruption.
The MP also gave the Rajya Sabha a crash course on the history of India failing to provide a anti-corruption ombudsman.
"We should look at what society wants when we clear laws," Tiwari said. He's right but wasn't that always the case?
2:10 pm: TMC backs Lokpal, goes back to Justice Ganguly bashing
The TMC has backed the legislation but took the opportunity to indulge in some Justice AK Ganguly bashing and said that he should resign from his post.
1: 45 pm: Lok Sabha to debate bill tomorrow
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has told the Rajya Sabha that Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee has allocated four hours for debate on Lokpal Bill on Wednesday.
The minister said they were confident that the amended Lokpal Bill would be passed with a consensus.
1.36 pm: Rajya Sabha breaks for lunch, to meet at 2 pm
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien finally took the decision to have a half hour lunch break after the House could not arrive at a consensus.
The Rajya Sabha will now reconvene a little after 2 pm.
1.28 pm: Lokpal bill and RTI will strengthen fight against corruption
Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has tweeted that the Lokpal bill will give the RTI sufficient teeth in the fight against corruption, adding that she was hopeful the historic legislation will be passed today, after 40 years.
1:20 pm: Yechury says private companies shouldn't have been excluded
CPM's Sitaram Yechury seems to be in the mood of Bollywood songs today and listed two songs to illustrate how the BJP and Congress are working together.
He also said that the Lokpal bill did not tackle the fact that the money that was used to fund corruption came from the private sector wasn't tackled by this legislation.
Yechury said the party was ready to accept the bill in the current form.
He however added that the government must reconsider excluding the corporate sector, private entities and PPPs in relation to government funding.
1:00 pm: A brief debate on lunch break
Even on the lunch break there was no consensus with MPs differing on whether there should be a half hour lunch break or none at all. Thankfully there seems to be a consensus on the legislation.
The BSP has no problem with the Lokpal Bill but has a problem with the fact that they weren't called for the all-party meet organised by the Rajya Sabha Chairman yesterday. He said that it had led to the media saying that the BSP was opposed to the bill which was completely untrue.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said that he also received the news late.
"It was a communication gap," PJ Kurien explained attempting to calm Satish Chandra Mishra of the BSP.
Mishra also complained that Parliament has ignored the plight of those affected by the Muzaffarnagar riots and said both houses could have debated it. Unfortunately, he didn't get much of an audience on the matter today as well.
The house wore a empty appearance as many MPs headed out for a quick bite given there seems little chance of a lunch break.
12:55 pm: Reservations in the Lokpal shouldn't be made on basis of religion
Jaitley also objected to allowing reservation in the Lokpal on the basis of religion.
This clause was in opposition to the principles of the constitution, he said.
He urged the government to make minor changes to the bill and said the BJP would endorse the legislation completely.
12:50 pm: Jaitley says new provisions needed
"It is normal to hear the side of the person who is facing allegations," Jaitley said, adding that it was wrong to take the person's view before investigations were launched.
The BJP said that a second provision should be added that says in the case of search and seizure the investigation agency shouldn't need to take the public servant's view on it.
12:35 pm: BJP welcomes Lokpal bill, says it will help fight corruption
The Leader of Opposition said that the bill was the result of the government realising which way the wind was blowing on corruption.
It would have been better if all political parties passed the bill unanimously, Jaitley said.
"Only those who are doing wrong will fear from taking decisions," he said.
The reform which was needed for the nation and to restore the faith of people in the system.
Jaitley also listed the various benefits of the existing Lokpal and Lokayukta system and said the party originally had doubts about whether it would interfere with federalism.
12:30 pm: Anna tracking updates, says Bedi
12:30 pm: Sibal congratulates all parties for consensus
"I thank all political parties for sitting here today to listen to the voice of people who are fed up with corruption," Sibal said.
He said it was a time to celebrate given the consensus that has been evolved on the legislation.
He then commended the bill to house to thumps of approval.
12:20 pm: Sibal says passing of bill is a historic moment
Law Minister Kapil Sibal said that the Lokpal Bill gave the Rajya Sabha a historic opportunity and said the Parliament was listening to the voice of people outside Parliament.
He also listed a brief history of the Lokpal Bill but conveniently glossed over the agitation that resulted in the bill being drafted.
12:15 pm: SP walks out of debate on Lokpal Bill
Yadav said that there were too many problems with the current draft of the Lokpal and hoped the Rajya Sabha wouldn't pass it. However, the Samajwadi Party would have nothing to do with the passage of the bill, he said.
"We will not participate in the debate on Lokpal and condemn it," Yadav said.
All the party's Rajya Sabha MPs then calmly walked out the Rajya Sabha.
12:10 pm: Samajwadi Party says no work will get done if Lokpal is created
The Samajwadi Party made its stand on the Lokpal Bill clear and said the bill would only disrupt the working of the government.
"All authorities will have fear on signing on any decision. Ministers will not take decisions," Ram Gopal Yadav said.
What I am saying here will be proven true at some point in the future, he said.
He pointed to the various ways in which the Lokpal could be misused by political rivals.
"The system assumes that everyone is dishonest except for the Lokpal," Yadav said.
He also pointed to the case of Ganguly to show that even judges couldn't be trusted any more. He said politicians were the only true public servants and all other government servants were merely doing their job.
12:05 pm: Samajwadi Party disrupts proceedings again
The Samajwadi Party is protesting the bill in the Rajya Sabha again. Meanwhile the TMC is protesting the fact that the Lokpal has been taken up for discussion instead of the dismissal of Justice AK Ganguly.
After a brief intervention, the Trinamool Congress's Derek O'Brien is allowed to speak by the Deputy Chairman and he demands the resignation of Justice Ganguly.
He acknowledged as well that it was important to debate the Lokpal Bill but said Ganguly's insistence of staying was a 'disgrace to men'.
11:35 am: Sonia Gandhi expresses hope that bill will be passed
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has now also publicly expressed hope that the Lokpal Bill will be passed by the Rajya Sabha today.
11:15 am: Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ram Gopal meet with PM over Lokpal bill
After disrupting the Rajya Sabha, Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav met with the Prime Minister to discuss the matter.
The Samajwadi Party has been strongly opposed to the Lokpal Bill and the Prime Minister will be hoping to convince them not to disrupt the proceedings anymore. But the question is will Mulayam Singh Yadav listen?
11:00 am: Rajya Sabha begins, SP protests in well of House
MPs are protesting in the well of the Rajya Sabha against the Lokpal Bill even as Kapil Sibal was on his feet to read out a document.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12 pm.
10: 40 am: Must pass Lokpal Bill today, says Rahul Gandhi
The Congress Vice President seems to have laid down the law for his two ministers and emerging after a meeting with him, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said that for the party will go all out to get the bill through the Rajya Sabha today.
"We just had a meeting with Rahul Gandhi and he has said we must pass the Lokpal bill today," Nath told reporters today.
He also expressed hope that the Samajwadi Party would come around to back the legislation.
10:30 am: BJP says it is ready to pass Lokpal Bill without debate
The BJP has said that it is willing to back the Lokpal Bill without any debate on it.
However, it has also said that the government should get the Samajwadi Party's support for the bill, reports CNN-IBN.
It hasn't said that the SP's support is a caveat for its support. The Congress is unlikely to care for the Samajwadi Party's support as long as the party doesn't disrupt proceedings.
9:55 am: Now BJP threatens to disrupt Parliament
The BJP may have seemed to be on board to pass the Lokpal bill but has said that they won't allow Parliament to function in the event that the Communal Violence Bill, which it is strongly against, is moved today.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar has said that they won't allow Parliament to function in the event the two bills are brought before the two Houses today.
09:30 am: Rahul Gandhi replies to Anna Hazare, says govt committed to strong Lokpal
Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi has written to activist Anna Hazare who is on a hunger strike and promised that the party is committed to give the nation a strong Lokpal.
Anna Hazare in turn has written a letter to the Congress Vice President thanking him for ensuring the passage of the bill.
9:00 am: Rahul Gandhi meets with Kamal Nath, Narayanasamy
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who has taken up the passage of the Lokpal Bill as something the party needs to achieve, is meeting with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and V Narayanasamy at 9.45 am, reports stated.
The meeting is likely to dwell on Parliamentary proceedings today and the chances of the party being able to push it through the Upper House of Parliament.
The Samajwadi Party remains an obvious roadblock and the leaders will probably be finalising their strategy for pushing the legislation through.
07:00 am: Jaitley seeks suspension of Question Hour in Rajya Sabha
Arun Jaitley has moved a notice for the suspension of Question Hour in Rajya Sabha to debate and pass the Lokpal Bill.
Sources said Jaitley gave the notice after the all-party meeting convened by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari to reach a consensus on the Lokpal Bill.
The Opposition appears to have prevailed over the Manmohan Singh regime on the amendment which takes away the government's right of transferring a CBI officer investigating a case referred to the agency by the Lokpal. This would give some independence to CBI in its functioning.
End of updates for 16 December
2.10 pm: Can extend Parliament to pass bill, says Kamal Nath
Parliamentary Affairs minister Kamal Nath has once again reiterated that the Lokpal bill is the government's highest priority, saying that they are even willing to extend Parliament to see the bill through.
The new found sense of urgency comes in the wake of Rahul Gandhi's sudden interest in seeing the bill through Parliament, and following the Aam Aadmi Party's impressive showing in the recently concluded Delhi polls.
And it is not just Kamal Nath, who is underscoring the urgency of the bill.
Minister Salman Khurshid for his part, slammed Arvind Kejriwal for his opposition to the Lokpal Bill even after Anna Hazare supported it.
"After Anna Hazare's consent, there is no logic in opposing the Lokpal Bill. It would be passed," he told reporters during a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency.
He said Anna was a Gandhian leader, who had the courage to reform himself along with others.
12.20 pm: Kiran Bedi slams AAP for playing politics on Lokpal
In a direct attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said the debutant party needs to realise that they entered politics to do good, not rid the country of it.
Taking on its leader Arvind Kejriwal, Bedi tweeted: "The broom is to sweep away the dirt and not the good! Broom if used for other purposes loses its utility!"
Slamming the party for making statements without reading the redrafted legislation, Bedi had said that it was "grossly unethical for anyone to be making statements about lokpal without reading the contents of the bill and select comm recommendations!"
"How can a political leadership which is opposing all other political parties, concede Lokpal to others which weakens their very foundation?" she further said.
11.28 am: BSP will support Lokpal bill, says Mayawati
BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday said her party will support the Lokpal bill when it is tabled in Parliament, CNN-IBN reports.
The BSP, which has 20 MPs in Lok Sabha offers crucial outside support to the Congress-led UPA government.
10.35 am: Bedi, Kejriwal tweet out their differences on Lokpal bill
The Twitter war between Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal over the Lokpal bill continued with Bedi questioning whether the Aam Aadmi Party was serious about prosecuting those guilty of corruption.
While Bedi seems convinced that the modified bill is good enough to bring the corrupt to book, Kejriwal maintains that the bill has nothing new in it and it was a mere joke on the people.
"Whatever Anna may say, we will continue our fight for janlokpal bill till our last breath... None of the 3 conditions which were agreed upon when Anna broke his fast in Aug 2011 are there in this jokepal," he had tweeted.
But Bedi, who is on a fast with Anna Hazare in Ralegan Siddhi, believes the bill in its current form is a positive step ahead.
"Once a 4+4 of Lokpal is in place,any complaint backed by solid evidence will lead to credible investigation, independent prosecution+trial!," she tweeted.
9.50 am: Those opposing Lokpal don't want corrupt prosecuted, says Bedi
Reiterating her stand on the re-drafted Lokpal bill, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi tweeted this morning that the bill was certainly not a 'joke' and those behind discrediting it perhaps just wanted to keep the issue alive and not let those guilty of corruption, be prosecuted.
Elaborating on the bill, Bedi said the CBI will have a free hand when investigating under the Lokpal as it would be operating under the supervision of four senior judges and experts.
On Sunday, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal held a press conference where he slammed the government saying the bill, in its current form, was not capable of prosecuting anyone.
"The Lokpal Bill in its current form, won't send a mouse to jail, forget a politician," he had said.
8.20 am: I have read govt Lokpal bill have you? Anna asks AAP
Countering claims by Arvind Kejriwal that he had been 'misled' and had not seen the provisions of the draft Lokpal bill, anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare said that he was familiar with the draft.
According to a report in the Times of India, Hazare said, "People who say I don't know the bill may have not read the draft. And if they feel there are still shortcomings, then they can take up an agitation to get whatever has been left behind".
The comments come barely a day after he categorically said that Kejriwal and he had parted ways.
Meanwhile Kejriwal and AAP have made it clear that they will fight for a 'strong' Lokpal regardless of Anna's feelings on the matter. Senior AAP leader Kumar Vishwas went on record as saying that AAP belonged to the people of India and not to any one person, be it Kejriwal or even Anna.
7.15 am: Samajwadi Party to allow Lokpal bill to be passed?
In good news for Rahul Gandhi and the government, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has reportedly agreed allow the Lokpal bill to be passed.
According to a report in the Times of India, "Sources said the breakthrough came after parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath met Mulayam on Sunday afternoon to persuade the SP chief to reconsider his tough stance on the bill."
The report addd that Nath met Mulayam on Sunday and while it is understood that the SP chief did not exactly agree to suspend disruptions, he seemed more reconciled to the legislation being passed than he was before.
-- end of updates for 15 December --
3.20 pm: BJP unimpressed with Rahul's zeal for Lokpal
Alleging that ruling Congress is "not serious" about bringing the Lokpal Bill, BJP today said the UPA government could have brought the anti-graft legislation long ago as there was consensus over the issue.
"Congress is not serious about Lokpal (Bill). The consensus had already emerged one year ago in May 2012. (In) one and half years, there were three peaceful sessions. They (Congress) could have brought the bill any time," BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar told reporters.
"Because, there were unanimous recommendations. If they were genuine enough, they would have brought the bill and passed it. We were ready to pass it unanimously. But, government does not want and that's why we have doubts," he said.
He was responding to Congress vice President's highly publicised move to strongly endorse the Lokpal draft in Parliament and appeal to other parties to ensure its smooth passage.
Both the Congress and BJP are fighting to be seen as the backers of the Lokpal bill, especially in the wake of Arvind Kejriwal's victory in Delhi on an anti-corruption plank.
2.20 pm: This bill won't even send a mouse to jail, says Kejriwal
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal who has so far only commented on the Lokpal controversy on Twitter is now addressing the press conference in Delhi.
"The net result of passing this Lokpal is that Rahul Gandhi will get some credit", he said, while reiterating the arguments of his colleagues that the version of the bill that the government was seeking to pass was nothing more than a sham. "The government is not even willing to make CBI an independent body, he said,
"The Lokpal Bill in its current form, won't send a mouse to jail, forget a politician," he added.
The AAP leader also vowed that his party would keep fighting for a strong Lokpal bill, regardless of whether or not Anna was happy with the government bill.
2.00 pm Govt Jokepal is unacceptable to us, says AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party is now holding a press conference, detailing its opposition to the government version of the Lokpal that has been given Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi's stamp of approval.
AAP leader Prashant Bhushan who was also a part of the original team Anna, said that it was important that the Lokpal was kept completely out of the ambit of the government, adding that in its current form, the bill was a complete betrayal.
"An independent and unbiased investigation is not possible if we go by the government Lokpal. Lokpal has to be completely independent of the government", he told a press conference in Delhi.
1.00 pm: Bill is certainly not a 'Jokepal' says Kiran Bedi
Anti-corruption activist and Team Anna member Kiran Bedi has jumped into the middle of the Lokpal controversy, saying that contrary to the assertions of AAP leader Kumar Vishwas, the Lokpal is certainly not a Jokepal.
"Lokpal is certainly not a Jokepal!Those who term it this way perhaps want to keep d issue alive & not want it get started against corruption", she tweeted a while ago.
"Thanku for all d stones being hurled as insinuations ref Lokpal: Being preserved as mementos!(Pl read bill+recommendations of Select Comm)", she added.
Meanwhile Kumar Vishwas contended that the Aam Aadmi Party had no quarrel with Anna Hazare, but said that the Lokpal bill did not belong to any one person - not even Anna.
The Congress party for its part said that it was sad that Anna's former team members were now deserting him.
9.00 am: SP unfazed by Rahul's plea to pass Lokpal
Samajwadi Party was unfazed today by the appeal of Rahul Gandhi for passage of Lokpal Bill, warning it could go to "any extent" in Parliament for blocking the anti-corruption legislation. Party leader Naresh Agarwal advised Congress not to seek passage of any important bill after "losing the mandate of the people" in recent assembly elections in four states.
"Congress has lost the mandate of the people and should refrain from seeking passage of any major legislation. We will continue to oppose the Lokpal bill. We will go to any extent to oppose it," Agarwal told PTI.
SP opposed the bill in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, leading to adjournment of proceedings for the day. SP leaders had pressed for a discussion on price rise saying it was a more important issue concerning the common man. SP leaders have claimed establishment of Lokpal will create a "police raj" in the country and was not good for democracy.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi appealed to all political parties to pass the Lokpal bill which will be discussed by the Rajya Sabha Monday, and described it as a "strong bill" that will wipe out corruption from the country.
The gesture was welcomed by Anna Hazare, although Kejriwal strongly objected and said Anna was being 'misled'.
"I m really surprised. How can Anna accept sarkari lokpal bill? Sarkari lokpal is a "jokepal". Who is misguiding Anna?" Kejriwal tweeted. Kejriwal, who in 2011 was with Hazare, also tweeted that "None of the 3 conditions which were agreed upon when Anna broke his fast in Aug 2011 are there in this jokepal."
-- end of updates for 14 December --
9.11 pm: Rahul keen on bringing SP on board, passing bill
Rahul Gandhi is very keen on early passage of the Lokpal Bill which seeks to create an anti-corruption watchdog, Congress leaders said today in the backdrop of Anna Hazare's fast and AAP making it an issue.
Floor managers of the ruling party said the next two days will be utilised to bring on board Samajwadi Party, which has been thwarting attempts for consideration of the bill in an amended form in the Rajya Sabha.
SP, an outside supporter of the UPA government, disrupted proceedings of the House repeatedly today demanding a discussion on price rise before the Lokpal Bill is taken up.
8.29 pm: BJP disagrees on four points in the bill
Passage of Lokpal Bill in Parliament could face new roadblocks with BJP today expressing disagreement on four points, including independence of CBI and keeping even organisations, except religious institutions, not funded by the government within the ambit of the ombudsman.
In a statement, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said after reading the recommendations of the Select Committee and government's amendments, BJP has found four areas on which there are differences.
Independence of CBI continues to be a sparring point between BJP and the UPA regime. Jaitley had proposed to the Select Committee that the transfer of CBI officials probing cases referred by the Lokpal to the agency should only be transferred with concurrence of the Lokpal.
"However, the power as it stands today is vested in the government. The government can defeat the purpose of independent investigation by transferring an inconvenient officer. This requires a relook," Jaitley said.
5.16: Accept whatever Parl gives, former Lokayukta tells Anna
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde today suggested that Team Anna should accept the Lokpal bill which "Parliament gives now" and hoped Anna Hazare agrees to it.
The former Team Anna member said the Lokpal bill might not be the same as wanted by Hazare, who is on an indefinite fast demanding stronger anti-graft measure.
However, "let us accept whatever the Parliament gives now, let us see how it functions, and if we find this is not enough- the institution is not functioning well- then we will make a demand to bring about the change," he told PTI.
"Why miss this opportunity of getting this bill passed and creating an institution? Creating an institution is absolutely more necessary and important than asking for a perfect institution to be brought into," Hegde said.
Expressing his doubts about Hazare agreeing to this, the former Supreme Court judge said, "He has taken a firm stand on that... I wish he does though (agrees)."
On Hazare's fast, he said, "Starting the fast was for good cause because the government was defying something which the people wanted...; now they have placed it in the Rajya Sabha, I hope for the positive outcome."
"If he (Anna) wants to wait till the bill is passed its okay, because last time he was cheated..., but if he wants to continue the fast only on the ground that some of the provisions in the draft bill are not in accordance with the draft made by his team, I have got little apprehensions about that. Why not allow the institution to be created..."
"I expect the bill to be passed, what form it will be passed is something that is anybody's guess. But surrounding circumstances which is compelling the government of the day and be for that matter even the opposition parties are as such- that they must, otherwise they may not be able to face 2014 election," Hegde said.
4.00 pm: BJP accuses AAP of hijacking Anna
BJP today accused Aam Aadmi Party of trying to "hijack" Anna Hazare's agitation on the Janlokpal Bill after the activist asked AAP leader Gopal Rai to leave his village when he interrupted former army chief VK Singh's speech at a function.
Party spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also ridiculed suggestions that BJP may offer support to AAP to form the government in Delhi, saying it was irrational to even suggest as much at a time when AAP is claiming that it will stop Narendra Modi from becoming prime minister.
He said BJP salutes the agitation of Hazare and condemned AAP for its attempt to "hijack" his agitation.
"The whole country is watching what they (AAP) are doing. We condemn it," he said.
Naqvi said his party was in complete support of the Lokpal Bill and blamed the Congress-led government for putting the bill on the backburner.
3.35 pm: No Lokpal bill in Parliament, RS adjourned till Monday
And any slim hopes of a Lokpal debate happening in the Rajya Sabha have been dashed, with protesting MPs forcing the adjournment of the house till Monday.
Although there was some attempt at a debate, the protests, chants and general cacophony grew to such high levels it became impossible to conduct the business of the house.
Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, PJ Kurien tried to tell rioting MPs that he would "bring action" against them, but to no avail.
So much for the Lokpal this week then. We'll try again on Monday.
3.08 pm: Anna's anger is not an insult, says Sisodia
AAP leader Manish Sisodia is scrambling to do some damage control, after a verbal spat between party leader Gopal Rai and VK Singh made it on to national news channels everywhere.
"Anna ji's anger is not an insult for us. He can say anything to us", Sisodia said, clearly playing the part of the chastened-yet-grateful pupil.
2.34 pm: Lokpal politics in Ralegan Siddhi
Amid repeated adjournments in Parliament that made the Lokpal bill a no show on that front, there was plenty of drama in Ralegan Siddhi, where Anna Hazare has entered the fourth day of his fast for the Janlokpal bill.
It all started when former army chief VK Singh made a speech that was apparently directed at AAP. " Some people are saying today that Anna is because of us, not that we are because of Anna. But no matter what they say, they can't show Anna down", he said.
The statement was objected to AAP leader Gopal Rai who shouted a challenge at Singh. The former army chief then responded saying, "If you feel bad about what I am saying, if you have any misunderstanding keep it in your heart. Whatever you people did wrong, let me talk about it".
The incident finally ended when Anna Hazare himself intervened and sternly told Rai that it was not right to interrupt someone while they was speaking. "If you have a problem with what he is saying, please go out", he said.
Later a chastened Rai said that the party would support a Jan Lokpal bill in its strongest form.
Meanwhile team Anna members are decrying the 'betrayal' and 'bad behaviour' by Gopal Rai and other party members, saying that Anna was very hurt by their actions.
11.30 am: Lokpal bill tabled in Parliament
Not much has been done in the Rajya Sabha, which has been more a repository for plaintive chants like, "We want justice!" but amid adjournments and shouting someone managed to successfully table the Lokpal bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Whether it will be actually be put to a vote is anybody's guess.
8.15 am: Bill to be reintroduced in RS as Anna piles on pressure
The Lokpal bill which suffered an ignominious end in 2011 in the Rajya Sabha, is likely to be reintroduced in the upper house of Parliament today. The introduction of the bill comes even as Anna Hazare enters the fourth day of his fast unto death in Ralegan Siddhi, demanding the implementation of the Jan Lokpal bill.
The BJP has already said that it is willing to extend its support for the passage of the bill even without debate, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said that the Lokpal was a 'priority'.
It's been a long wait for the Lokpal: Reuters
The rush to pass the bill is being seen as a knee jerk reaction to the stunning performance of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, in which they won 28 seats and forced a hung assembly, taking away an outright win for the BJP.
Both Congress and BJP, who have everything to play for in 2014, don't want to be seen on the wrong side of the pro-Lokpal, anti-corruption wave, which has clearly become a poll decider in the elections.
The BJP has even accused Congress MPs of deliberately disrupting the house, so that the bill would not be passed.
However even if this bill is to be passed, it is unlikely that Anna Hazare will be appeased.
The bill that will come up for consideration is a watered down version of the stronger 'Jan Lokpal' that Anna Hazare has demanded. Although Hazare's close aide, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi had given the draft bill her approval, Kumar Vishwas of the Aam Aadmi Party had said it was a 'Jokepal' - a term that Anna himself had coined for the draft when it was first introduced in 2011.
According to this report in the Indian Express, Bedi had said, " After reading the draft, I have come to the conclusion that it satisfies to around 75-80 per cent the suggestions made by Anna in his draft. It is important that the Bill gets passed now. We can continue to strengthen it through amendments."
She had also sharply asked Vishwas how he planned to implement his promise of AAP passing the bill, the Express report added.
Anna is on the fourth day of his fast, and doctors are concerned for his health.
Parliament is yet to see a single days work in the winter session, and according to The Hindu, the situation is likely to continue today.
Most of the parties have gone on record saying that they will support the bill, except for the Samajwadi Party which is still insisting that it will oppose it.
There's no news from the RJD as yet, whose MP Rajniti Parsad created huge controversy by tearing up the Lokpal bill during the infamous Rajya Sabha debate in 2011.
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