Debate on Lokpal Bill in first half of Par session: Bansal
Replying
to a notice given by Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley seeking
suspension of the Question Hour to resume debate on the Lokpal bill,
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said the government has
studied the 187 amendments moved by Opposition and allies in ruling
alliance since debate on the bill was adjourned after the House was
adjourned sine die on 29th December.
"We
want to bring the bill within this part of session itself," he said.
His statement marked a change of stand by government as the minister on
the session eve press conference had said it would be difficult to take
up the bill in the first part due to financial business.
Bansal
said the Lokpal and the Lokayukta Bills have been kept on top of the
list of business to be conducted during the Budget session of
Parliament.
Listing the priority for the government for first part of the Budget session which ends on 30th
March, he said the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address will be
taken up first, followed by passing of General and Rail Budget and
Lokpal Bill will be taken up thereafter.
"Notwithstanding
the primacy that is accorded to passing of financial business, the
government wishes to bring the (Lokpal) bill for further discussion in
this part of the session," he said.
"The
government has studied the amendments and we have formulated our
views," he said when Opposition members pressed for a response to the
amendments moved.
The
Government is committed to put in place a "strong mechanism to check
corruption," Bansal said adding the UPA government wanted to hold
consultations with the Opposition on the amendments moved and passing of
the bill.
He
disagreed with Jaitley who had cited rule 257 to state that discussion
on Lokpal Bill has to be taken up since it remained inconclusive when
the House was adjourned sine die.
"There are other bills which we deferred...which were not concluded," Bansal said.
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