As reported in the media the Lokpal Bill, which is slated to come up in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, a near unanimity emerged at an all-party meeting at Delhi on Monday,only UPA's closest outside supporter Samajwadi Party remained a stumbling block continuing its opposition to the anti-corruption measure.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari convened an urgent meeting with an aim of breaking the logjam over the Bill, which was boycotted by Samajwadi Party, saying it was opposed to it as the "whole decision-making process will come to a standstill".
NDA leaders has even agreed for the passage of the Bill amid the din, but only unanimous that marshals should not be used to usher out those opposing the measure in the House. The opposition is learnt to have been working with the government on the issue of bringing certain amendments in the Bill after the Select Committee recommendations.
The government has agreed to BJP's demand that it would not transfer any CBI official probing cases referred to by the Lokpal, without the consent of the anti-corruption ombudsman.
BSP, which has openly declared its support for the proposed legislation, and were not present at the meeting, as the meeting coincided with their national executive meeting here.
After the meeting, which lasted for over half-an-hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said all parties that attended the meeting today were unanimous that the Bill be passed on Tuesday.
"We discussed expeditious passing of the Lokpal Bill. All parties, except the Samajwadi party which was not present in the meeting, have expressed a desire that the Bill should be passed under all circumstances on Tuesday.
He added, "All parties will continue to persuade the Samajwadi Party to join in, in passing of the Bill and not to obstruct the functioning of the House,"
SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, however, said his party was opposed to the Bill and will continue with its stand.He said,"We are opposed to the Lokpal Bill. We are of the opinion that if this Bill comes in force, no minister, no bureaucrat will sign on any file. The whole decision-making process will come to a standstill,".
BJP leader Prakash Javadekar hit out at Congress for showing double standards and alleged that the ruling party is not showing alacrity and intentions in persuading SP, which has supported their government for over 9 years.
Javadekar said, "Today, the question is about the Centre's intent. If the Centre's intentions about Lokpal are clear, would they then not be in a position to influence Samajwadi Party, which has rescued them for nine-and-a-half years? When it is required, all these parties vote for them and only on issues like women's reservation, Lokpal, they oppose them. It is obvious that the Centre's intentions are not clear,".
Those who attended the all-party meeting included Arun Jaitley (BJP), Naresh Gujral (SAD), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), V Maitreyan (AIADMK), Derek O'Brien (TMC), N K Singh (JD-U), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI) and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh (RJD). Nobody from DMK were present.
INDIA HONEST is glad that an initiative that crusader against corruption Anna Hazare fought for for years is after all going to see the light of the day. Though many heads rolled out in the throne path , specifically Anna's one time close associate Arvind, who missed the "Credit Bus for Lokpal" bill in his lust for political power in the disguise of Delhi CM chair, yes it unmasked many facts about the hidden intentions of people. India will remember for long time how Guru's Lokpal becomes one devoted Pupil's Jokepal , suddenly ?