A scheduled debate in Lok Sabha on various versions of theLokpal Bill, including that of fasting anti-corruption activistAnna Hazare, was stalled on Friday as government and Opposition fought over the modalities. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the debate may now be held only on Saturday.
The House was adjourned after the BJP created a ruckus, demanding a debate under Rule 184 that allows voting. The notice for the debate had earlier been sent under Rule 193 that does not entail voting. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar held an all-party meeting in an attempt to resolve the deadlock.
Lok Sabha convened at 2:15 pm for the debate but protests from the Opposition led to an adjournment till 3:30 pm.
The Congress accused the BJP of not allowing the House to function. Bansal kept asking the BJP to clarify its stand on the Lokpal Bill. He charged the BJP leaders of hypocricy, saying they were speaking one thing outside Parliament and another inside.
'Anna ready to break fast'The developments came as Hazare's fast entered its 11th day at the Ramlila Maidan. Hazare's associate Kiran Bedi said the Gandhian activist would end his hunger strike once Parliament passed a resolution that met his demands. These are: the inclusion of lower bureaucracy under Lokpal, a citizens' charter and the setting up of state Lokayuktas.
"Today is a key moment for India's future. The resolution by MPs will be victory for every Indian," Bedi said.
Prashant Bhushan, another Hazare associate, said: "A mere discussion will not do. Parliament will have to pass a resolution indicating that the Lokpal Bill covers the three issues raised by Anna."
Can't delay Parliament debate: Team AnnaHazare's team demanded that Parliament, if need be, hold the debate on Saturday too, saying that Hazare's health was precarious after 11 days of fasting and corruption was a critical issue. It also called for a debate under Parliament rules that allow voting.
BJP wants voting after House debateThe BJP too demanded voting after the discussion in Parliament. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj gave a notice for discussions under Rule 184. In Rajya Sabha, Opposition leader Arun Jaitley moved a motion demanding discussion under Rule 168. Both the rules mandate voting.
Rahul suggests Lokpal on lines of EC
The House was adjourned after the BJP created a ruckus, demanding a debate under Rule 184 that allows voting. The notice for the debate had earlier been sent under Rule 193 that does not entail voting. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar held an all-party meeting in an attempt to resolve the deadlock.
Lok Sabha convened at 2:15 pm for the debate but protests from the Opposition led to an adjournment till 3:30 pm.
The Congress accused the BJP of not allowing the House to function. Bansal kept asking the BJP to clarify its stand on the Lokpal Bill. He charged the BJP leaders of hypocricy, saying they were speaking one thing outside Parliament and another inside.
'Anna ready to break fast'The developments came as Hazare's fast entered its 11th day at the Ramlila Maidan. Hazare's associate Kiran Bedi said the Gandhian activist would end his hunger strike once Parliament passed a resolution that met his demands. These are: the inclusion of lower bureaucracy under Lokpal, a citizens' charter and the setting up of state Lokayuktas.
"Today is a key moment for India's future. The resolution by MPs will be victory for every Indian," Bedi said.
Prashant Bhushan, another Hazare associate, said: "A mere discussion will not do. Parliament will have to pass a resolution indicating that the Lokpal Bill covers the three issues raised by Anna."
Can't delay Parliament debate: Team AnnaHazare's team demanded that Parliament, if need be, hold the debate on Saturday too, saying that Hazare's health was precarious after 11 days of fasting and corruption was a critical issue. It also called for a debate under Parliament rules that allow voting.
BJP wants voting after House debateThe BJP too demanded voting after the discussion in Parliament. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj gave a notice for discussions under Rule 184. In Rajya Sabha, Opposition leader Arun Jaitley moved a motion demanding discussion under Rule 168. Both the rules mandate voting.
Rahul suggests Lokpal on lines of EC
Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
"We can't wish away corruption. It will require a comprehensive programme of action. There is a perception that enactment of single Bill will eradicate corruption. I have serious doubts about that," Rahul said.
"The Lokpal law is just one element in the fight against corruption. Laws are also required on government funding of elections, land issues and mining," he said, reminding MPs that they had the responsibility of allowing Parliament to function so that such laws could be enacted.
"Why not make the Lokpal a constitutional body like the Election Commission?" asked Rahul, all the while being backed by Congress MPs.
"Democractic processes cannot be undermined. Underming Parliament's supremacy is dangerous for democracy," he cautioned. "Let us commit ourselves to truth and probity in life. We owe it to the people of India."
BJP MPs interrupt Rahul speech
Rahul's statement sparked off an uproar in the House, with BJP MPs rising from their seats and shouting slogans. His speech was interrupted several times. BJP leader Ananth Kumar later stepped up the attack on the Congress by asking if Rahul or the prime minister was running the government.
Earlier in the day, Rahul met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, apparently to discuss the Lokpal Bill.
MPs give notice for House debate
Doctors examine Anna Hazare at the Ramlila Maidan.
This was after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal expressed doubts whether a debate could take place on Friday as there was no notice for it.
The government had on Thursday agreed to a debate on three versions of the Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha, giving rise to hopes of a resolution of the ongoing crisis.
Team Anna's draft resolution for Parliment
Supporters of Hazare in New Delhi.
1) A Lokpal Bill shall be passed by Parliament in the ongoing session, which will set up an independent Lokpal institution at the Centre and an independent Lokayukta institution on the same model in each state.
2) The House further resolves that Lokpal shall have jurisdiction over all public servants at the Centre and the Lokayukta shall have jurisdiction over all public servants in respective states.
3) Such law would require that all government departments make Citizens' Charters to give information about which public-dealing work being done in how much time and by which officer. Violation of the Citizens' Charter shall be penalised by Lokpal or Lokayukta.
Anna writes to PMHazare also wrote a letter to the prime minister, which was taken to him by Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. The highlights of the letter are:
- I am not sitting on a fast for serving my selfish purpose. I am just a common man and I want to help the poor people of this country. I have no partaking in power politics.
- Our movement is not against any person or any party. We want to fight and remove corruption. During this movement, if anything said by any of the team members has hurt your sentiments, then I apologise on their behalf.
- The common man is getting affected on a day-to-day basis due to corruption.
- (Mentioning the three demands on Lokpal Bill) If these can be accepted by Parliament, I will end my fast. Else I will keep sitting at Ramlila Maidan.
Meetings were held to finalise the government's response to Hazare's letter. The first meeting was held at Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's office in Parliament. It was attended by MPs Sachin Pilot, Milind Deora, R.P.N. Singh and Jitin Prasada.
Govt wants assurance from Anna
Supporters of Anna Hazare shout slogans outside the PM's residence.
Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit, one of the negotiators for the government, said Hazare should keep the sanctity of his fast and stick to his words.
"This hunger strike has been an ideal for all. Anna is kind-hearted, I appeal to him to break his fast. He had said he will end his fast as the discussion begins. Since everybody is ready for the discussion, he should end the fast," he said.
Split in Hazare camp?
Clear divisions appeared in Hazare's camp as civil society members Swami Agnivesh and Justice Santosh Hegde criticised the continuing hardline over the fasting.
Justice Hedge, the former Lokayukta of Karnataka, said Hazare should end his fast and even hinted that he was being used by some members of his team. "Sometimes I feel that I am not in Team Anna... that's what I feel. I am with him (Anna), but too far away," Hegde said.
Swami Agnivesh claimed Hazare was being misguided by his key associates Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal. He said he had pulled himself out of the campaign to retain self-respect.
"A few people have hijacked Anna Hazare's movement. People running the show are being disrespectful," Agnivesh said, insisting that Hazare should have called off his fast after the prime minister's appeal.
Team Anna meets Left leadersA day after meeting the BJP top brass, Hazare's team met CPI(M) leaders on Friday.
"We are going back to all political parties to ask which provisions of the Lokpal need more clarification," said Bedi.
After meeting CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat, Bhushan said, "I have given clarifications that the CPI(M) sought. The party has indicated that they by and large support the Jan Lokpal Bill."
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