“The select committee, headed by Minister of State in Prime Minister Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy, has already sent a notice that the bill be immediately taken up in the Rajya Sabha,” said Shinde.
“The Lokpal Bill has been passed from the Lok Sabha and has gone to the Rajya Sabha. The select committee in the Rajya Sabha had recommended 13 amendments to the bill and that were also considered by the government,” Shinde added.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath had declared that the government’s priority was to pass the Bill.
Anna’s fast enters 3rd day
The Gandhian anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s fast at Ralegan Siddhi entered third day on Thursday. Hazare had earlier announced that he would hold an indefinite fast during the winter session of the Parliament if the Lokpall Bill is not passed in the Rajya Sabha during the session.
Hazare had held a fast at the Ram Lila ground in Delhi with similar demand two years ago. The UPA government had then promised to effect the legislation as soon as possible to put an end to the movement. Although a bill in this effect has been passed in Lok Sabha, it is yet to get the nod of Rajya Sabha.
Social activist Medha Patkar, who met Hazare here on Thursday, flayed Congress-led UPA government for “inaction” on the issue. “What has prevented the government from passing the bill?” she asked.
“Had the government passed the bill after the earlier agitation, Congress would not have faced the ignominy in the recent Assembly polls,” she said.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal, who was supposed to go to Ralegan Siddhi to support Anna Hazare, has dropped the plan due to his ill health.
“Kejriwal is suffering from high fever due to which he is unable to go to Ralegan Siddhi to support Hazare, who is on indefinite hunger strike for passage of Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament,” AAP spokesperson Manish Sisodia said.
Instead of Kejriwal, party leader Kumar Vishwas and others have left for Ralegan Siddhi, he added.
On Wednesday, Hazare’s associate and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi met the anti-graft crusader and is expected to join his fast from Saturday.
