AAP, Anna effect: Cong, BJP push for Lokpal Bill

The UPA government will again try to debate the Bill on Monday and may pass it amid the din if other parties like the Samajwadi Party continue to disrupt the proceedings of the House. After passing the amended Lokpal Bill, it has to be approved by the Lok Sabha again, before it becomes an Act. Anna Hazare has pledged that he will continue his fast until the Bill is passed in Parliament.

The House which assembled at 11 am on Friday was adjourned immediately on a host of issues and when it reassembled after one hour, Minister for Personnel V Naraswamy introduced the Lokpal Bill. SP leader Naresh Aggarwal insisted that it wanted to debate the price rise as it was equally important as the Lokpal Bill. The House was adjourned till 2.30 pm, again till 3.30 pm and finally till Monday as Deputy Chairman P J Kurien insisted that the House should be in order to discuss an important issue.

Interestingly, the BJP was keen that the Bill should be passed amid din after the government today agreed to withdraw one of its amendments which stated that the government can allow transfer of the investigating CBI officer without the Lokpal permission. The other amendment was related to the show-cause notice being served before search and seizure operation. Both the UPA government and the BJP are keen to pass the Lokpal Bill realising that their failure would rob them of the popular support of the masses ahead of the general elections in 2014.

After being routed by the AAP in Delhi, the BJP is desperate to cosy up with Anna Hazare given the fissures between Team Anna and AAP led by Arvind Kejriwal. Anna’s team member Kiran Bedi and General V K Singh are both considered close to BJP and are keen that Anna should bless the saffron party.

With AAP jumping into the political fray, both Kiran Bedi and General Singh, are also keen to join politics though they are at present keeping their cards close to their chest. However, Anna Hazare still insists on Jan Lokpal Bill.

The Congress, which is mired in corruption scandals, wants to refurbish its image with the passage of the Lokpal Bill. Having come a long way of holding marathon meetings with the Civil Society and involving them in the drafting of the Lokpal Bill, the Congress is keen to take the exercise to its logical conclusion. It wants to pass the Bill before the crucial Lok Sabha polls, slated for 2014.