New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley on Monday gave notice for suspension of Question Hour on Tuesday to pass the Lokpal Bill.
Sources said Jaitley gave the notice after the all-party meeting convened by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari to reach a consensus on the Lokpal Bill.
The Opposition appears to have prevailed over the Manmohan Singh regime on the amendment which takes away the government's right of transferring a CBI officer investigating a case referred to the agency by the Lokpal.
This would give some independence to CBI in its functioning. However, some sticking points still remain. Government is not agreeable to the BJP demand that an officer being probed for corruption and possessing disproportionate assets should be given a hearing by the Lokpal before the investigation is initiated.
The BJP maintains that this would take away the surprise element required in a search and seizure operation.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders told Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari at the all-party meet on Monday that the Lokpal Bill be passed in the din.
However, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party skipped the meeting and the former made it clear that it won't support the Bill. "Our stand hasn't changed, we will continue to oppose the Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha as we have been doing," said SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav.
Although the BSP skipped the meet, party supremo Mayawati said that her party will support the Lokpal Bill.
Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, both the major political parties - Congress and BJP have brought back the focus on the Bill and are trying hard for not to be held responsible for obstructing the passage of Lokpal.
Adding to the government's trouble is Aam Aadmi Party which outrightly rejected the Lokpal Bill saying it's powerless and won't be able to curb corruption.
AAP said the Bill is of no use since investigating agencies remain under the government's control.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said even the Prime Minister could be made accountable if the government makes the CBI independent. "The government is not willing to make CBI an independent body. The Lokpal Bill in its current form, won't send a mouse to jail, forget a politician. This Lokpal will remain under government's control," Kejriwal added.
Social activist Anna Hazare has, however, supported the government's version of the Lokpal Bill and slammed Kejriwal for obstructing it. He said, "Let Arvind Kejriwal do whatever he wants, I do not want to react to what his team members are saying. If Kejriwal and team say there are shortcomings in the Bill, then he should protest," said Hazare to thunderous applause from his supporters."
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