Finally after 8 unsuccessful bids, anti-corruption Bill sees light of day
LS passes amended Lokpal Bill amid walk out by SP, SS
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies

New Delhi, December 18 2013: After eight unsuccessful attempts over the last five decades, India on Wednesday took the historic step of enacting the Lokpal law by which an anti-corruption watchdog would be established that will have in its purview even the office of the Prime Minister.

The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2013, was passed by voice vote amid din created by members from Seemandhra region who were protesting against division of Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana state.

The Bill was already passed by the Lok Sabha in December 2011 but it came to the House again as it underwent amendments before being approved by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena members, opposing the Bill, staged a walk-out in protest, as their counterparts from other parties, including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, supported the measure.

Gandhi sought extension of the winter session to pass six more Bills which were "part of the comprehensive anti-corruption framework" of the UPA Government.

"Lokpal Bill alone is not enough to fight corruption.

What we need is a comprehensive anti-corruption code.

The UPA Government has prepared anti-corruption framework.

"Eight new Central laws have been brought...We should complete the unfinished work of fighting corruption...Six anti-corruption bills are pending.

If necessary, can we not extend this session of Parliament," Gandhi said as the debate began on the key Bill to create an anti-graft ombudsman.

Noting that Lokpal Bill was part of this comprehensive framework, he said the RTI law was the first on the UPA list.

The others which remain pending are Prevention of Corruption amendment, right to citizens for time-bound delivery of goods and services, public procurement, foreign bribery, judicial accountability and the whistleblowers Bills, Gandhi said.

Swaraj supported the measure but attacked the Congress for clamouring to take credit for it, saying "the people of this country and the old man (Anna Hazare) who has undertaken fast several times deserve the credit" .

Earlier, Speaker Meira Kumar allowed the Bill, as amended by the Upper House, to be laid and taken up for consideration by Lok Sabha.

Wednesday's discussion and debate of the Bill lasted for about two hours.

It was preceded by a nearly five-hour-long our-hour debate and discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Tuesday's debate took place in an atmosphere of rare political consensus.

Replying to five-hour long debate, Law Minister, Kapil Sibal urged the States to take up this Bill as a model and pass the Lokayuktas Bill as early as possible.

He said the Lokpal is supposed to investigate cases of corruption against elected representatives of the public and the public servants.

Earlier, initiating the discussion on the Bill, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said that his party is supporting the Bill.

Jaitley pointed out that there should not be religion-based reservations in the institution of the proposed Lokpal.

In Ralegaon Siddhi, anti-corruption crusader and social activist Anna Hazare welcomed the news of the passing of the Lokpal Bill in both Houses of Parliament, and said he would end his fast of nine-days.

Hazare thanked all political parties for ensuring the passage of the Lokpal Bill.

The government has agreed to incorporate a key amendment demanded by the opposition BJP, which allows searches or raids by the CBI or police on an officer accused of corruption without notice.

The proposed anti-graft law provides for a Lokpal or national ombudsman to investigate corruption charges against public functionaries.

The Lok Sabha had passed the Lokpal Bill in 2011 to create a Central Lokayukta.

Transparency's landmark 2005 study of corruption in India found that as many as 62 percent of all citizens have had first-hand experience in paying bribes or using influence peddling to get jobs done in public offices.

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