The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill passed by the Lok Sabha and discussed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday would continue to sit in the Upper House for its passage at a session at a later date.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal said there were 187 notices for amendments to the Bill and some of them contradictory that needed to be reconciled and the process would take time.
The government would now have time to work on it since Parliament is scheduled to meet for the Budget session some time during the last week of February and the fate of the Bill would remain suspended till the government decides to bring it for passage. Minister of State V. Narayanasamy said the Government stood committed to the passage of the Bill and its intention was proved by bringing it before the Rajya Sabha.
In fact, when the Opposition said the session could be extended, Mr. Bansal said that in the House that since the year was to end in two days' time and as per convention, the first session in a new year started with the address of the President to the Joint Session of Parliament followed by the Houses discussing the motion of thanks to the President's address.
However, outside Parliament, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said there was a precedent in 2004 when the convention was not followed. At that time, the Congress had objected to the move by the Vajpayee government not to prorogue the winter session the previous year and re-convene it before calling for early elections.
Keywords: Lokpal Bill debate, winter session, parliamentary proceedings, Rajya Sabha debate, Lokpal amendments
I had expressed my apprehensions in my comments on your editorial " One step forward, two steps backward", stating that the bill violates the federal structure of our constitution. The regional parties, including TMC, resisted the bill and the Government was in hopeless minority. Now we must have a serious relook at the very concept of the Lokpal. The concept of all-inclusive all-powerful anti-corruption ombudsman may have worked well in small nations like Hong Kong and Singapore and in few European countries. However, its application to 120 crore diverse population cannot be an easy task. The concept has caused havoc and fractured and confused our polity. Chaos and impasse in the Rajyasabha is an indication. Indian democracy is not a Guinea Pig where such political experiments can be carried out without knowing its toxic side effects. We must re-examine the concept and apply it with utmost care. For the purpose conensus amongst the various political parties is most essential.
Building on what Jaya Prakash has posted, may I say, "Thank God, nothing", for, “Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.” (Edmund Burke, 1780)
What should happen can be listed by me...As the only group having required wisdom, Team Anna must be mandated to draft a final version and that should be the END. They should not sit surrupticiously in a closed room like the bad congress guys did but do the drafting openly at Ramlila Maidan. Immediate arrangements must be made to house a lot of corrupt people in jails.(Remember Anna telling if Lokpal was in place Chidambaram and scores of others would be in jail). Next,a attempt should be made to detect atleast 200 thosand individuals clean and competant to man the Lokpal. Contingency plans should be made to get all this 200 K or the defecit from other continents and if required from the planet Mars. >Now that the Media Tamasha of Team Anna, Loksabha, Rajya sabha and so on has gone for a temporary breather we should with out delay have a suitable media sensation to keep our systems going. All of us should celebrate the Second Independance and dance.
Jai-Hind.
Congress didnt do it last 60 years to enact good anti corruption laws to govern nation and did it this time again. They forgot millions that were watching Rajya Sabha TV not going out to fast along with Anna. They want India to be vulnerable and weak so more more black money can go out of India where there family sits and enjoys life. While poor people will live with inflated currency and loss of lively hood. Another election around the corner?
NOTHING... thats the answer to your headlines. So long we fools are prepared to sell ourselves for a 'quarter bottle' and a 'biriyani Pottalam' nothing can be expected out of anything or anyone.
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