Members of Parliament on Thursday slammed the government for showing undue haste in the filing of the bill lokpal as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, defended the action saying that the country has been waiting for the anti-corruption since the past 40 years. He said that there was no
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pressure and that nothing had been dictated to her.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to the "unconstitutional" quota provision in the proposed lokpal minority and demanded that the government withdraw the bill and file a new document.
"We are disappointed. This is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has given dozens of rulings stating that reservations should not exceed 50%," opposition leader Sushma Swaraj said at home after the government introduced Bill in the Lok Sabha.
"Take it back, come back with a new pro-Constitutional bill and we will pass that" the BJP leader said.
Samajwadi Party headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav also opposed the bill and said he should not be moved beyond the introductory phase as it did not provide the basis for a strong Lokpal.
Lalu Prasad of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), opposing the bill, however, commended the Government for the supply of minority and lambasted the BJP to oppose it.
He criticized the government to expedite legislation under duress, a reference to the agitation by social activist Anna Hazare and his team.
"What's going on?" He asked, referring to the threat of protest Hazare outside the residence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi.
"We have to parliament to decide on the invoice. Do not hurt fearing unrest. Whatever the law needs to be done, we will. We want a bill lokpal but it must be strong. This is not a strong bill. "
The bill was tabled in Lok Sabha lokpal after the government cleared the proposal for the provision of minorities in the draft anti-corruption law that the BJP opposed. Lok Sabha was adjourned twice after OPPOSITION allies alike protested against their exclusion in the law.
Congress Core Group on Thursday cleared a proposal from the provision of minorities in the bill, after lokpal OPPOSITION allies alike protested against their exclusion in the bill, according to reports.
Members as Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sharad opposed to the bill lokpal saying that there should be a quota for minorities in the bill.Earlier, RJD, SP, BSP and AIMIM members protest against the exclusion of minorities from the bench anti- corruption of the Ombudsman proposed.
Earlier, RJD chief Lalu Prasad raised the issue during Zero Hour alleging that minorities were kept out "under pressure" of the RSS and the BJP.
"Congress and the BJP-RSS are together. That's why there was a delay in the dissemination of the invoice. We will not accept it. It is incomplete. The edit and then introduce the bill, "Prasad said.
While reading the contents of the bill that was distributed among the deputies, Prasad accused the government of being afraid of the BJP.
Meira Kumar President objected to his reading from the bill, stressing that it was yet to be introduced.
As he protested against the government's decision, Prasad was joined by members of SP, BSP and AIMIM creating an uproar. Two SP members also moved into the well, but returned to their seats after the speaker asked them to go back.
In the melee Trinamool leader Sudip Bandopadhyay of the Congress was seen talking to NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar apparently on the legislation.
After application of the order Kumar failed, she closed the session up to 14 hours.
The RJD chief said there was a "conspiracy" to keep Muslims out of the measure "under the pretext of printing (error). We check it out."
He was referring to a provision in the law that provides a 50% quota for SC, ST, OBC and women. Initially, the revised bill was the mention of minorities, but was then deleted.
The project was sealed late Wednesday night after the government abolished the minorities in the list of categories that will get a 50% representation in the panel lokpal, that the Constitution does not permit reservation on the basis of religion.
The bill, to take place for the discussion and transmission December 27, 28 and 29, shall be deposited for the second time this year and 10th time in 43 years. Propose the creation of two lokpal in the Centre and the states lokayuktas, it will replace one that was filed on August 4.
In addition, the government is capable of moving another bill to give the watchdog constitutional status. On Wednesday, Gandhi vowed to fight for the bill. Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), she also mentioned issue of reservation of women in the same breath.
Gandhi attacked the opposition for its "obstructionist tactics" as well as critics - Anna Hazare and his team - for the dissemination of "deliberate misinformation and malicious" against the government.
But Hazare continued his attack on the government to maintain the CBI on the jurisdiction of the lokpal is.
"The government is cheating the people by bringing a bill to save the weak corrupt politicians," he said in his native village in Maharashtra, Ralegan Siddhi.
The opposition, meanwhile, appeared divided on the issue. The BJP made it clear that it would propose amendments to the bill official if he did not address the demand for an independent CBI.
A non-BJP played the safe return one day prior to the introduction of the bill and kept his cards close to his chest and is awaiting official traffic legislation.
Refusing to respond to media reports, party leaders said they will propose amendments after the introduction of the bill, as its language deviates from the party dissent note submitted to parliamentary group on lokpal.
"We will propose amendments if the bill does not reflect the points we made. But since the bill should be introduced Thursday morning, the changes will be post-introduction," Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters.
Tuesday night, the party spokesman Prakash Javadekar reacted to reports on the bill for treason.
The party's silence on Wednesday, fueled speculation that the government had won his confidence. But Swaraj said there was no discussion with the government on the contents of the bill.
In their dissent note, the BJP had suggested splitting the wings of investigation and prosecution of the CBI, the Director of Public Prosecutions to be appointed by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and President lokpal, rather than being an officer deputation from the Department of Law.
Prosecutors, deputies said, should independently evaluate the evidence rather than blindly follow the wing of the probe.
The BJP, unlike the team of Anna, had made no application for the merger of the IWC with lokpal, only by insisting on its autonomy.