Government to pass the Lokpal Bill in session last

New Delhi: As political activity picked up ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament — scheduled to begin from November 22 — the government on Wednesday vowed to pass the Lokpal Bill, but ruled out a single comprehensive legislation to check graft.

The opposition BJP, on the other hand, gave notices for taking up the issues of black money, price rise and Telangana in the Lok Sabha.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told the media that the government would strive for consideration and passage of 31 Bills, with another 23 lined up for introduction. He also met with chief whips of parties, who, according to Bansal, agreed that Question Hour should not be allowed to be lost at any cost. They mentioned several issues, including Centre-state relations, situation in Afghanistan, India-Pakistan relations, Sikkim earthquake, formation of new states and procurement prices, which their parties wanted to raise during the session.

Sources said the government may bring in the revised Lokpal Bill during the last week of the session, which would conclude on December 21. The Standing Committee on Personnel, Law and Justice, headed by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, which is examining the Bill, may give its report by the end of this month.

Bansal told reporters in reply to a question that the government was “committed to root out corruption”. However, this goal could not be achieved through “one instrument or one law”. “It requires a slew of measures,” he said.

Elaborating, he said, “All this cannot be done through a comprehensive Bill as it will not serve any purpose and will only create huge bureaucracies.” For the elimination of corruption, delivery services by government departments needed being on time. “The government has an open mind and it will give a very serious thought to the report of the Committee,” he said. “We are determined to pass it.”

The minister said in reply to another question that if the committee agreed, a separate Bill investing the Lokpal with a constitutional status, was possible.

The government list did not include the controversial Land Acquisition Bill. When asked about it, Bansal said, “The Bill is with the Standing Committee and it seems they are taking their time.”

The BJP, meanwhile, gave notices to Speaker Meira Kumar for discussion on politically sensitive issues. “The Winter Session of Parliament begins on November 22. I have given notices for discussion on price rise and Telangana,” Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter. She added that her colleagues in the Lok Sabha had submitted notices on corruption, black money, blockade in Manipur, flood, encephalitis, Centre-state relations, Kashmir, Indo-Pak relations and other important issues. 

-Express news service