Lokpal Bill set for passage in RS

New Delhi: Decks have been cleared finally for the passage of the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday with all parties barring the Samajwadi Party, which walked out of the House in protest but did not disrupt enough the proceedings, reaching a consensus on it and supporting the bill during the debate.

As Anna Hazare's fast entered its eighth day in his native village in Maharashtra, the Bill for which he fought is all set to be passed now. Anna Hazare is reportedly watching the proceedings of the House from his fast venue.

"We want to pass the Bill," said Leader of Opposition in Parliament Arun Jaitley, adding that the political atmosphere has changed in India and federalism and battle against corruption cannot co-exist.

Speaking on the debate, Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal thanked all for the consensus and said people are fed up with corruption at even the highest level.

"It is the time for us to celebrate the consensus on the bill," he said.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) member Sitaram Yechury even wanted to skip the lunch to debate the bill.

While BJP wants to keep the private bodies out of Lokpal's jurisdiction, Yechury said it should come under its purview to target the supply side of corruption.

"The jurisdiction of the Lokpal predominantly should be where government revenue is involved," said Jaitley in the debate.

The House earlier on Tuesday was adjourned till noon following an uproar over several issues, even before a discussion on the Lokpal Bill could be initiated.

As soon as Rajya Sabha Chairperson Hamid Ansari asked the government to initiate the discussion on the Lokpal Bill, Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs started uproar over price rise, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) created ruckus over the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) summit in Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

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Lokpal Bill set for passage in RS