Government struggled hard to muster support for the measure as the BJP and the Left stepped up heat insisting that they will press for amendments.
On the eve of the debate in Lok Sabha on Lokpal Bill, Government Monday struggled hard to muster support for the measure as the BJP and the Left stepped up heat insisting that they will press for amendments.
Claiming that all UPA allies "are on board", Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal wanted other political parties not to press for any amendment to the "strong bill" which is a "fine piece of legislation" drafted after careful consideration and consultations with all concerned.
His refrain was that the process of law-making is not a static exercise and as one gathers experience one can make changes later. He noted that all political parties should realise that for the first time in 40 years, a bill on the Lokpal issue has reached considerations stage in Parliament.
Bansal brushed off speculation that Congress has issued a three-line whip asking all MPs top be present in the Lok Sabha tomorrow as it was 'nervous". "Issuing whip is a legitimate exercise," he said.
BJP, however, made it clear that it will not relent on the changes sought by the party and it was upto the Government to create a broad consensus by making amends wherever necessary.
"Congress has a nefarious design with the inclusion of an unconstitutional clause of relgion based reservation exceeding 50 per cent. It will make the bill infructuous in the eyes of the law", BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.
A senior Minister, who declined to be identified, said that the provision in the bill for reservation for minorities was "non-negotiable". He dismissed suggestions that Constitution has barred making any such provision.
Cranking up pressure, the CPI(M) said it will move concrete amendments that includes creation of a separate investigation wing to further strengthen the measure which is "ineffective" in its present form.
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