Don't bring Lokpal bill on last day, BJP warns government

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday warned the government against bringing the Lokpal bill on the last day of the current budget session of parliament and not to pass it on pretext of time constraint. No such excuse will be accepted this time, it said.

While the fate of the Lokpal bill hangs in balance, BJP spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain claimed the government was once again about to repeat the episode of winter session by trying to bring the bill on the last day of the session.

"The government is again preparing to bring the Lokpal bill on the last day of the session...this time we will not accept any excuse of time constraint," Hussain said at a party briefing in the parliament complex.

"The midnight drama will not work this time," he said.

During the winter session, the Lokpal bill was moved in the Rajya Sabha on the last day of the extended session, but could not be passed as the house was adjourned as midnight struck. The opposition had then accused the government of intentionally delaying and not passing the bill.

The Lokpal bill was scheduled to be taken up in the union cabinet meeting Friday, but was dropped from the agenda. The government has, however, repeatedly said it will bring the bill in budget session, with sources even saying they will try to bring the bill Monday, or Tuesday.
 
Several amendments have been made to the Lokpal bill to accommodate the concerns of both the opposition and the government's allies.