Committed to passage of Lokpal Bill in Parliament: PM, Sonia

Amid reports that the much talked about Lokpal Bill will be brought in the Winter session, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said they are committed to the measure.

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, who was the first speaker at the Congress rally today, rued that though Congress brought the bill before Parliament, the Opposition ensured its non-passage in the Rajya Sabha.

"But we will again bring it and ensure the passage of that bill," Rahul said.
The Prime Minister and the Congress chief also spoke of plans to bring forward the measure to fight graft. Gandhi attacked BJP for blocking the passage of the bill.

She said that the UPA government brought the Lokpal bill to fight corruption but the "BJP did not allow its passage in the Rajya Sabha. But our struggle to get it passed will continue and I hope we would be successful in it".

Singh while highlighting the need to fight corruption said Parliament is considering the Lokpal Bill.

The Lokpal bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha but could no be passed in the Rajya Sabha due to stiff opposition from the BJP and some parties to some of its provisions.

Reports had it that Government planned to drop the contentious clause relating to setting up Lokayuktas in the states from the Lokpal bill and try to get it passed in the Winter Session of Parliament beginning November 22.

The rationale is that deleting the clause would help the government secure the support of UPA allies like the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party and constituents of the Opposition NDA in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling coalition is in a minority.