The Lokpal Bill would be introduced in the first week of the Monsoon session of Parliament, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla said on Saturday.
“The government will introduce the Lokpal Bill passed by the Cabinet in the very first week of the Monsoon session,” Mr. Shukla told reporters in Lucknow.
On members of civil society opposing the government’s bill, he said it should be left to the wisdom of the Parliament as to what type of bill it should be. “Those who are opposing the bill should wait for the Parliament’s decision first before calling it a ‘jokepal’ bill,” he said.
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The Minister said that Parliament’s decision is not that of one party alone. “The government is bringing an effective Lokpal Bill. It is not possible for one party or a person to decide what type of a bill it should be,” he said.
When asked about Anna Hazare’s proposed agitation on the issue of Lokpal Bill from August 16, he said the government does not prevent people from staging dharnas or demonstrations as it is their democratic right. However, the Delhi police could decide whether the dharna could be staged at Jantar Mantar or Rajghat as many factors are to be taken into consideration, he said.
On reports that the police were going soft against Amar Singh in the cash-for-vote controversy, Mr. Shukla said there was no interference from the government. “The government is neither protecting nor framing anyone,” he said.
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