‘BJP stalled passage of Lokpal Bill in Upper House'
A day after the Rajya Sabha witnessed “no vote” on the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, Home Minister P. Chidambaram admitted that there were differences between the Congress and its allies in the United Progressive Alliance, but blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party for stalling its passage.
The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 27 with some critical amendments but could not be put to vote in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday after a 12-hour debate ended abruptly at midnight. For, the House ran out of time and several regional parties raised objections to some provisions of the Bill. The Opposition and the UPA allies had together moved 187 amendments to the Bill as passed in the Lok Sabha.
“Those who moved amendments had no intention of passing the Bill... By no stretch of imagination could 187 amendments have been examined, analysed and accepted or rejected in the available time,” Mr. Chidambaram said here on Friday. However, “the Bill is not defeated. It is still safe and can be taken up in the next [budget] session,” he said.
On the stiff opposition put up by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), an important constituent in the UPA, Mr. Chidambaram candidly admitted there were differences with allies and “we need to sit down and discuss. I would not go so far as to say that there is a pattern in [the] confrontational behaviour of the TMC.”
The Minister said an important amendment on establishing the Lokayukta with the consent of the States had been included in the Lok Sabha and “we thought we had sorted out their issue but we need to talk.”
Mr. Chidambaram pointed out that the draft had been discussed with the TMC and when the Cabinet cleared it, a TMC Minister was also present. “They seemed satisfied and even voted in favour of the Bill in the Lok Sabha but subsequently changed their mind. We will have to talk to them.”
He said that between now and the budget session “they would try to refine and redraft the Bill so that it takes care of the concerns of the allies.”
It was quite clear that apart from regional parties, the BJP wanted a weakened Bill, he charged.
Keywords: Lokpal Bill, anti-corruption law, Rajya Sabha debate, UPA-II, BJP
What will you do, Mr. PC? Just like the "Cash-for-Votes" will you now try "Cash-for-Bill" strategy. Looks like that is the only option for you and your party. It is a KNOWN FACT that YOUR PARTY WILL STOOP TO ANY LEVEL to CLING ON TO POWER!!! JUST SIT BACK AND THINK...IS IT NOT SHAMEFUL?
This UPA government and its chairperson have proved they have no regard for the common man's problems. They want to take all the credit for taking actions against corrupt. They will take action against corrupt only when conditions apply. All these conditions, come with politically advantage not common man advantage as basis. They are not interested in the working mechanism of the LOKPAL, but are much more interested in debating which caste, religion will be the members of LOKPAL will come from. What a SHAME?
Like terrorism, corruption also doesn't have any religion. Let all of them come from Muslim or Christian or any other community other than HINDU. End of the day what will they do? They will have to apply the mechanism against the corrupted.
People who are adamant in assessing and idealising policies should judge strictly about how public is thinking about it.
Last time the Prime Minister had Nuclear Energy Pact among the middle class, this time can he do it with LOKPAL.
Mr. PC, first try and sort out the issues people have. You have a minister for several years and all that we know is that people continue to live in misery in India. As Home Minister, sort out the problems at home.
A grand drama enacted by the directors and now a mini drama by actors to cover
their tracks.
Sir,I would rather suggest tough stand towards allies.'sort out differences with allies' thats what you said, in political dictionary the meaning is 'compromise'.Its a fact that Congress is still a respectable party among millions of people. its also a fact that its the only national political party which has a foothold in each and every state in the Country which no other party can boast of.People backed you and believed in you to lead the country to prosperity, the number of times your party elected, proves it.Stooping down or compromise just for a politcal survival is the last thing we want from Congress.I think you still have the fire power in you to take the country alone towards prosperity.Your history is very strong,that inspires millions of people even now to support you.We long to see the old congress back,devoid of ideology, moralism and panic.
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