Lokpal Bill likely to be taken up Monday

New Delhi, Dec 12 The Lokpal Bill is likely to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha Monday, said Satyavrat Chaturvedi, who chaired the select committee that looked into the anti-corruption bill.

“The government has proposed a discussion on Lokpal bill on Monday,” Chaturvedi told reporters here. Six hours have been allotted for the discussion, he added.

This comes as anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare sits on an indefinite fast demanding passage of the bill.

Earlier, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that a notice for taking up the bill has already been given to Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Hamid Ansari.

“Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) V. Narayanasamy, has already sent a notice that the (Lokpal) bill be immediately taken up in the Rajya Sabha,” Shinde told reporters here.

“The select committee in the Rajya Sabha had recommended 13 amendments to the bill and that were also considered by the government,” said Shinde.

The Lokpal bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha in the winter session last year, has been majorly amended by the select committee. The government said it has accepted some of the amendments.

Once passed by the Rajya Sabha, the amended bill will have to be returned to the Lok Sabha for approval before it becomes law.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, meanwhile, refuted reports of parliament heading for an early adjournment.

“At the moment all the speculations and the media reports are not true. There is no plan at the moment to curtail the session,” he said Thursday.

“Our priority is to pass the Lokpal Bill. The Lokpal Bill has to be taken in Rajya Sabha, then it will come to Lok Sabha.”