Govt has lost moral battle against Anna Hazare: Opposition

The Opposition Wednesday pilloried the government, saying it has lost moral battle against Anna Hazare with introduction of the "Sarkari" Lokpal Bill, but members across the political spectrum were one in asserting the supremacy of Parliament.

The tirade against the government was led by BJP in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, which said there was anguish among people on widespread corruption in the country.

The party said while most of the issues and the provisions in the Hazare's Jan Lokpal Bill can be made compatible with Constitution, "will of Parliament will prevail" in case there were areas of disagreement.

Concerned over the public anger on corruption manifested by the agitation of Hazare followers, both the Houses took up short duration discussion on the issue.

Both BJP and the Left demanded a stronger Lokpal Bill.

Initiating the debate in the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said the government was acting like a child in handling civil society.

"Enormity of protests is proportionate to anger and the enormity of anger is proportionate to the corruption," he said chiding the government for legislating in "haste and anger."

He said the government has lost the moral battle as it wanted to control appointment of the Lokpal.

If still there is no agreement, the "will of Parliament will prevail," he said. However, most of the proposals of the civil society can be made "compatible with the Constitution."

He asked the government to have a "serious relook" at its Bill which seeks to set up a "Sarkari Lokpal."

In the Lok Sabha, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi dubbed UPA coalition as the "government of the corrupt, by the corrupt and for the corrupt", alleging that the government was "born out of sin" of the cash-for-vote scam of 2008.