Lok Sabha passes Lokpal Bill with amendments; Left, BSP & SP walk out

[Tiger80]

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Tuesday night passed the Lokpal Bill with amendments by voice vote with the Left parties, SP and BSP walking out in protest before the voting. This was one of the most hotly debated bills both inside and outside Parliament in recent times. Meanwhile, in a strong speech pitching for the Lokpal bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said a final decision on the legislation must rest with parliament and stressed that the CBI should be independent of Lokpal. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the bill tabled last week, the Prime Minister said the bill "lives up to the promise that members of this house collectively made to the people of the country by the way of 'sense of house'". He also said that it is wrong to dub all bureaucracy and politicians as "corrupt" or "dishonest." "It (passage of the bill) is a serious business and must eventually be performed by all of us who have been constitutionally assigned. Others can persuade and their voices heard, but the decision must rest with us," Singh said referring to Anna Hazare, who is fasting in Mumbai for a strong Lokpal. Hazare is fasting for three days while parliament is debating the Lokpal bill Dec 27-29. On the CBI, the Prime Minister said: "I believe that the CBI should function independently of the Lokpal. I also believe that the CBI should function independently of the government. But independent does not mean absence of accountability." "We have, therefore, proposed a framework for the appointment of CBI director which involves the prime minister, the chief justice of India or his nominee, and the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and no one should have doubt about the integrity of this process," he added. He said as far as the issue of the CBI functioning under Lokpal is concerned, the government believes this could create an executive structure outside parliament, which is accountable to none. Singh remarked that bureaucracy has been "at the receiving end" and all bureaucrats and politicians should not be perceived as corrupt. "In the course of this debate, bureaucracy has been at the receiving end. I don't think that all public functionaries need to be painted with the same brush just as all politicians should not be presumed to be dishonest or corrupt," he said, receiving thunderous response from MPs. "There are some very special moments in the life of the nation. This is one of them that how collective wisdom of this august house will be reflected in the debate on Lokpal and Lakayuktas," he added. "The broad provisions of the bill have been debated both in public domain and by political parties. It is my honest belief that the bill which is now before the house lives up to the promise that members of this house collectively made to the people of the country by the way of 'sense of house'," the prime minister added. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lok-Sabha-passes-Lokpal-Bill-with-amendments-Left-BSP-SP-walk-out/articleshow/11270660.cms

[Anonymous]

Shri Laloo Prasad had the gall to poke fun at the whole movement in Parliament. However flawed it might be, he should STFU me thinks. BSP and SP walking out, well no surprises there. Finally our Parliament is full of uncivilised aholes, they listen aptly to a clown like Laloo and dont give a **** when someone like Tharoor speaks (however biased he might be) The quote of the day according to me, "Shashi Tharoor that says.. "What we see today, India is not the developing country .. but its the golden bird that is on its path of decay"

[CSK Fan]

Shri Laloo Prasad had the gall to poke fun at the whole movement in Parliament. However flawed it might be' date= he should STFU me thinks. BSP and SP walking out, well no surprises there. Finally our Parliament is full of uncivilised aholes, they listen aptly to a clown like Laloo and dont give a **** when someone like Tharoor speaks (however biased he might be) The quote of the day according to me, "Shashi Tharoor that says.. "What we see today, India is not the developing country .. but its the golden bird that is on its path of decay"

What kind of teenager logic is this? After 60 years, for the first time. we are making a major change in our constitution. We are putting a comittee in power which will have power over the PM, the Parliament, The supreme court and the CBI. And you just want it to get passed however flawed it is?

[Tiger80]

Lok Sabha shatters Rahul Gandhi's dream, like Rajya Sabha did his father's 22 years ago

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's [ Images ] idea of conferring a constitutional status to the Lokpal failed to carry conviction in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday night, much like his father Rajiv Gandhi's [ Images ] Panchayati Raj Bill 22 years ago. The Constitution (116th Amendment) Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha by a determined Opposition, helped by the absence of parties supporting the government from outside like the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal. It was a repeat of the scenes in Rajya Sabha in 1989 when the Opposition combined to defeat the statute amendment bill to confer Constitutional status to Panchayat Raj institutions. Soon after, the late prime minister dissolved the Lok Sabha and went in for elections which his party lost. But a bill to confer Constitutional status to panchayati raj institutions was passed after the Congress returned to power in 1991. http://www.rediff.com/news/report/lok-sabha-shatters-rahuls-dream-as-rajya-sabha-did-his-fathers/20111228.htm

How could people be so cruel :sniffle::sniffle:

[ViruRulez]

Was watching the fun live on TV. Was not bad and Kangress conceeded a few points yesterday in the amendments. Overall not that bad of a Lokpal for a start. Some Kangress MPs bunked the late night voting as they were perhaps sleepy and thereby reduced the majority and hence, the constitutional amendment did not get passed. Was funny to see Meira Kumar when she was caught surprised when Sushma caught that the number of MPs were lesser in the house and so, there were not enough for constitutional amendment. :haha:

[Anonymous]

What kind of teenager logic is this? After 60 years' date= for the first time. we are making a major change in our constitution. We are putting a comittee in power which will have power over the PM, the Parliament, The supreme court and the CBI. And you just want it to get passed however flawed it is?

Well, I meant the way he poked fun at Anna and his supporters. The Parliament is not a stand up gig for idiots to just turn up and start doing their acts. We might as well have Raju shrivastav doing his routine. I am for a debate not a joke of a debate. Shashi Tharoor pointed out some very good flaws and that is the sort of debate we deserve.

[Sir john]

debate on in rajya sabha.:nervous:

[Sachin=GOD]

Rajya Sabha was adjourned Sine Die before voting on Lokpal Bill could happen. This was done because Kangress knew that it would most certainly lose the vote and be embarrassed.

[Sir john]

Rajya Sabha adjourned , Lokpal bill not passed:((

[surajmal]

I've a feeling that Mamta will pull support and we are headed for an early election. I don't know how exactly I feel about that because that maaderchod advani wants to run again and will definitely ruin BJP's chances.

[bihutoli]

Bastards staged the whole fiasco. No party is actually committed to Lokpal bill. Democracy reigns supreme once more.

[adi B]

bro the lokpal which the government were passing aint strong, it wasnt even considering the amendments that the opposition parties were stating, better if a strong lokpal comes next session rather than this useless one