Govt confident of tabling Lokpal Bill in Winter Session: Bansal
"I
believe that it would be possible. Yesterday, there was an all-party
meeting where 35 different parties participated. All had different views
on the issue. To say there was broad consensus on the issue would be
wrong. This has increased the work load of the government," Bansal said
on Thursday.
"How
to compile these 35 different views and then also bringing in
government views and to make amendments in the proposed bill," Bansal
said, referring to the task at government's hand.
However, "We are working hard on it and I am confident we will be present it in this session," he said.
When
pointed out that only one week of the Parliament session was remaining,
Bansal said, "We will have to do a lot of hard work and only then it
would be possible."
"Even
if we do it by 20-21st I don't think why it cannot be done. On one day
it can be discussed in one house and on the other day it can be done in
the second house," he said.
Bansal said that there was a range of opinions expressed at the all-party meeting held over Lokpal.
"There
was no consensus at the all party meeting. Some were of the view that
why were we hastening up the whole process. Our aim is how to find a
consensus view from the different views given by the parties," he said.
"Some
were of the view that Group C should be brought under the Lokpal and
some were opposed to the idea as it involved 35 lakh central employees.
And how will one institution look after the complaints received against
them," Bansal said.
"Government
has started working now on the issue and its sole effort is to see how
we can come up with the bill as soon as possible," he said.
Asked
what if the Bill cannot be placed during this session of Parliament,
Bansal said, "This question does not arise at this moment. This is too
premature and I will say we are working on it."
When
asked what would be his request to Anna Hazare, he said, "We are not
talking to him, whatever he does is his right. But being a honourable
citizen of the nation he should understand that Parliament's job can be
done by Parliament only."
"People's
'fatwa' is with Parliament, which includes more than 500 members of Lok
Sabha and more than 240 members of Rajya Sabha and they have been given
the responsibility that they have to make laws. And we are doing our
work," Bansal said.
Meanwhile,
NDA convenor and Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav on Thursday
demanded a special session of Parliament to discuss the Lokpal Bill.
"The Lokpal Bill should not be hurriedly passed. All members should be given a chance to give their opinions. Special session should be called to deliberate Lokpal Bill," Yadav told reporters outside Parliament House. He, however, said that "MPs are protected under Article 105 and there should not be any change in it." Asked whether CBI should be under Lokpal, he said, "CBI should be autonomous and it should not be under anyone's control. Government should consider the case." On inclusion of PM in Lokpal's ambit, JD(U) leader said, "There should be unanimity on the PM issue. Whatever is to be done, it should not be done hurriedly." Lyricist and MP Javed Akhtar was also against any move to pass Lokpal bill in a hurry. "It is a serious issue and should be done with the consent of everybody," he said. |
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