Lokpal Bill introduced in Lok Sabha, parties object

Thursday, December 22, 2011: The Lokpal bill was on Thursday introduced in the Lok Sabha with a prolonged debate where several MPs representing various political parties voiced their view on the bill.
Leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj Thursday demanded withdrawal of the Lokpal bill minutes after it was tabled in Parliament. She opposed the introduction of Lokpal and Lok Ayuktas Bill in its present form and demanded a revised bill.
She pointed two major legislative flaws in the bill saying that the bill was against India’s federal structure
She said that reservation in Lokpal was unconstitutional and that the term ‘not less than 50%’ was not acceptable. She also mentioned that religion based reservation was against the constitutional policy of the government. She said that the bill interfered with the powers of independent states.
Samajwadi Party also opposed the Lokpal and Lok Ayuktas bill in it’s current form. Lalu Prasad Yadav, in turn, opposed the bill for bringing the Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal. He demanded that the PM and CBI should be kept out of the bill.
Yadav demanded the Lokpal Bill to be revised, saying that it was not strong and effective.