Parliament discussion on Lokpal Bill tomorrow

 Preparations underway on Monday at the MMRDA Ground for Anna Hazare's fast in Mumbai. Photo: Shashi Ashiwal The Lok Sabha will begin discussion on the Lokpal Bill on Tuesday, even as Anna Hazare begins his three-day fast at the same time in Mumbai for a “strong” Lokpal.

The House will witness a day-long combined discussion on the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill to give the ombudsman a Constitutional status.

The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010 (popularly known as Whistleblowers’ bill) will also be discussed along with the two bills.

Congress has already issued a three-line whip to its members to remain present in the Lok Sabha during the debate.

It has also requested its allies in the UPA to issue similar whips.

The Lokpal Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

The Bill had faced objections from various political parties including the BJP at the stage of introduction last week, saying 50 per cent quota for minorities in the Lokpal bench and the Search Committee was “unconstitutional.”

Several parties had slammed the measure claiming that the Bill made it obligatory upon states to establish Lokayuktas and it was an infringement on the federal structure of the country.

Some others had criticised the move to put the Prime Minister under the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog.

Mr. Hazare has announced that he will begin his three-day fast at Mumbai from Tuesday to protest a “weak” Lokpal Bill.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi had declared that she will fight for the Lokpal Bill.

She had recently told party MPs that to tackle the issue of corruption, three bills with major implications are to be passed soon — those relating to the protection of whistleblowers, enhancing judicial accountability, strengthening anti-money laundering operations and controlling bribery of Indian public officials by foreign companies.

The government aims to establish a mechanism to receive complaints relating to disclosure on any allegation of corruption or willful misuse of power or willful misuse of discretion against any public servant under the Whistleblowers’ Bill which will also come for discussion in the Lower House tomorrow.

The measure also seeks to provide adequate safeguards against victimisation of the person making such a complaint.

Parliament to decide final shape of Lokpal Bill: Pranab

 PTI Pranab: "It is the job of Parliament to legislate". File photo Ahead of Anna Hazare’s fast demanding a ‘strong’ Lokpal Bill, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said it is for Parliament to decide what should be the final shape of the legislation.

“It is the job of Parliament to legislate. We (government) had several rounds of discussion with him (Anna Hazare) and his team. We know their viewpoints. About nine rounds of meetings have already been held with them.

Thereafter also, through interlocutors some discussions also took place with them,” Mr. Mukherjee told reporters at his south Kolkata residence.

Asked for his comments on Mr. Hazare’s threat of going on fast and Tuesday’s debate in Parliament on the legislation, he said, “It is for Parliament to decide what should be the final shape of the legislation.

“We brought legislation for the consideration of the House. I can’t make any premature comment on what members will do and respond to various provisions of the legislation. You will come to know of it later,” Mr. Mukherjee said.

Mr. Hazare is set to hold his three-day fast at the MMRDA Ground in Mumbai against a ‘weak’ Lokpal Bill from tomorrow.

Team Anna had on Sunday shot off an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and MPs wanting enactment of “real and best possible” anti-corruption law which should also provide for an independent investigative wing for the ombudsman.

Lokpal meet postponed, draft still not ready

The Union cabinet meeting to approve the contentious lokpal bill has been postponed and it will meet later in the day as the draft of the bill is still being worked out, reports said on Tuesday.

Anna Hazare described the government draft as "worthless and good for

nothing".

If it gets the cabinet nod the bill will be passed in Parliament on Dec 21.

As the winter session ends Dec 22, the government may extend it for a day Dec 23 or may reconvene Parliament from Dec 27-29 post-Christmas holidays to pass the Lokpal bill.

Parliamentary affairs minister PK Bansal has informed the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) about the government's intention to extend the session.

Both parties have also issued whips to their members to be present in Parliament till Dec 22. 

Sources said an extension might be required as the draft bill has over 60 amendments and more could come from opposition members when the legislation is debated in Parliament.

Sources said keeping in mind the high number of amendments, the government is likely to bring a new bill in the Lok Sabha for clarity after withdrawing the one already introduced.

The cabinet meeting could not be held Monday after home minister P Chidambaram found fault with the drafting of the bill.

A crack team including home minister P Chidambaram, law minister Salman Khurshid and minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy - all lawyers by training - scrutinised the government draft for any loopholes in a meeting which lasted over two-and-half hours.

Khurshid later told reporters the final draft will be cleared by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday night.

According to sources, the bill is likely to bring the Prime Minister under the ombudsman with riders. Sources said the government is not keen on bringing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) completely under the Lokpal, as being demanded by Hazare.

In a first, the bill, which will suggest a constitutional status for Lokpal, will provide for reservation for SC/ST, women and minorities in the anti-graft ombudsman.

While the government is open to bring the 57 lakh lower bureaucracy under the Lokpal, with proper procedures, it is unlikely to bring a citizen's charter under it. The government plans to introduce a separate bill for the purpose, said sources.

Government sources said they hope the draft bill would be acceptable to a large number of people in the house except those who are opposed to the concept of Lokpal.

Minister of state for planning Ashwani Kumar said: "The government and Congress are trying to build consensus on the Lokpal by consulting its allies and parties in opposition."

However, sounding a word of caution, union minister Farooq Abdullah said Parliament should keep in mind that "a super government to the government is not formed while creating the Lokpal".

Meanwhile, in Pune Hazare termed the proposed bill as "worthless and good for nothing" and cancelled his plan to visit Delhi on Monday.

"We will fill up jails in New Year," said Hazare reiterating he would launch a new movement, 'Jail Bharo Andolan' (fill up jails), from Jan 1 in front of the houses of Member of Parliament (MPs) if they attempt to dilute the Lokpal bill.