AAP to table Jan Lokpal Bill in Delhi assembly tomorrow

Preparing for a showdown, Aam Aadmi Party is going ahead with tabling of the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi assembly tomorrow without Centre's concurrence, which Congress and BJP hold as "unconstitutional".

Sources in the government said the Jan Lokpal Bill will be tabled in the House tomorrow and there will be no rethinking on its tabling even if Law Ministry opines that prior central clearance was required.

The four-day session of the Assembly is being convened to pass the Jan Lokpal and Swaraj Bills. The AAP government has announced plans to hold the last day of the session at the Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium.

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday had sought Union Law Ministry's opinion on the constitutional position whether it was necessary for the Delhi government to obtain prior approval from the Centre before tabling the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Assembly.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been maintaining that there is no need to obtain prior approval from the Centre while BJP and Congress are of the view that clearance was necessary under Transaction of Business Rules (TBR), 2002.

On Sunday, Kejriwal had threatened to resign if his pet anti-graft legislation is not passed by the state Assembly due to lack of support from other parties.

Meanwhile, AAP government today turned down Jung's request to reconsider decision to hold a special session of Assembly on February 16 at Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium, saying it would go ahead with its plans.

"Lt Governor has requested the government to reconsider the decision. The matter was raised once again in the cabinet. After discussion it was decided that government would go ahead with its earlier decision and once again request Lt Governor to assist it in holding the session in an open space," PWD Minister Manish Sisodia said.

Earlier, Jung had asked Kejriwal to review the decision as Delhi Police had expressed reservation over it citing possible law and order situation.

Rejecting the Delhi Police's plea, Sisodia said, "Surprisingly, Delhi Police has expressed its inability to provide security at an open place. It is the same police which has provided security to much bigger events related to sports or religious festivals in Delhi."