ID :
220147
Wed, 12/21/2011 - 11:26
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India: New Lokpal Bill to be tabled tomorrow; Parliament to sit beyond Christmas

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) A new Lokpal (Ombudsman) Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's Parliament, tomorrow and the existing one withdrawn. This was conveyed by the government to main opposition Bhartiya Janata Party today along with the intention to have a three-day additional sitting of Parliament from December 27 to take up this crucial Bill. BJP gave its nod to this proposal. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee held a meeting today with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, her counterpart in Rajya Sabha, the upper house, Arun Jaitley and senior BJP leader L K Advani to discuss the issue. Mukherjee conveyed to the BJP that the Lokpal Bill passed by the Cabinet last night can be circulated to MPs only today evening, according to sources. He also said that the existing Lokpal Bill will be withdrawn in Lok Sabha tomorrow and the new Bill introduced. Mukherjee said that in this scenario, there was little option but to extend the Winter Session by three more days and discuss the Lokpal Bill from December 27 to 29. BJP agreed to the proposal after initial reluctance. Party sources said its opposition is to the content of the Bill rather than extension of the winter session of Parliament. Government is keen to ensure passage of the Lokpal Bill along with two crucial legislations - Judicial Accountability Bill and Whistleblower Protection Bill -- during the current session.But since only two days are left for the session to end, it wants additional sitting after the Christmas break. Lokpal Bill was cleared last night by the Union Cabinet. The new Bill will be a Constitution Amendment Bill which will also bring the Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal with certain riders. The Bill, however, keeps the Central Bureau of Investigation out of purview of Lokpal except on cases which are referred to it by the latter. The Lokpal will have its own wings for preliminary inquiries and prosecution. The anti-graft Lokpal body will be a nine-member organisation including the Chairperson. PTI

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