Law Minister Salman Khurshid Monday said the Lokpal bill could "probably" be brought in the ongoing budget session of parliament.
His comment followed the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) suggestion of bringing the Lokpal bill with amendments in the second part of the current session. “We want to pass the Lokpal bill in the present session,” Khurshid said responding to a question from IANS.
Asked if the bill could be brought after the break with changes desired by the opposition, he said: "It is probable, if not possible... if we work hard." "Government always works hard," he added.
The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in the preceding winter session but was not passed by the upper house as the Rajya Sabha adjourned without voting on it. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, talking to reporters after an all-party meeting on the Lokpal bill, said the government should bring work on the changes needed in the bill in the break, and take up the bill in second half of the session.
The first half of the budget session ends March 30. The session will meet after the break April 24, and go on till May 22. Asked about the comment from Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal that 14 central ministers will go to jail if a strong Lokpal comes, Khurshid took a dig at him, saying: "I respect greatly his knowledge of law."
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