11.12.13

Lokpal Bill update

The government has its back to the wall following a three-pronged attack on the Lokpal bill. Activist Anna Hazare’s indefinite hunger strike, the political threat posed by Aam AadmiParty and pressure from activists spearheaded by Aruna Roy have spurred the government into action.
On Tuesday, minister of state for personnel V Narayanasamy said the government was keen on bringing the anti-corruption legislation to Parliament. This comes a day after members of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi seeking early passage of the Lokpal bill and other accountability legislations such as the bill for protection of whistleblowers and grievance redressal. Activists who were at the meeting said Rahul assured them that these legislations would be taken up in the winter session.
Roy said, “It is a shame this Parliament has not passed the accountability legislations. It is not just this government but all the political parties who have acted irresponsibly and not recognized these laws as a need of the country. It is a black mark against Parliament. This is its last chance to redeem itself. Sometimes, we have to rise above politics and this is the time.”

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