The Lok Sabha will consider the Lokpal Bill on Tuesday in an extended winter session, with the Opposition BJP and CPI(M) ready with amendments in their armour.
In Mumbai, Mr Anna Hazare braced up for his fast, even as Team Anna put forth four ‘non-negotiable' demands and threatened to intensify their stir.
The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011, is listed for discussion for eight hours along with a Bill for giving Constitutional status to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas and the Whistleblowers Bill.
The Congress has issued a three-line whip to its members to be present in the House. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr P.K. Bansal, told reporters that the Lokpal Bill was a product of wide-ranging consultations with civil society and political parties. He said the Constitutional Bill, which required a special majority for passage, would be put to voting only if it had the required support.
Meanwhile, the BJP is likely to move six amendments on issues such as inclusion of CBI and against reservation for minorities.
Sources said Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Arun Jaitley, has been assigned the task of preparing the amendments.
The CPI (M) leader, Mr Sitaram Yechury, told reporters that Left parties would move amendments for creation of a separate investigation wing to further strengthen the measure that is “ineffective” in its present form, inclusion corporate crimes, particularly those that cause a loss to the public exchequer and involve public servants.
Mr Hazare, who is suffering from viral infection, was firm on his three-day fast from Tuesday.
He will be joined by supporters across the country, including in New Delhi, Team Anna said at a press conference here.
‘non- negotiable' demands
The four “non- negotiable” demands cited by Team Anna are: Lokpal and Lokayuktas should have suo motu power to initiate investigations, it should be able to carry out independent probe, its selection should be through consensus of selection panel and lower bureaucracy should be brought under Lokpal's direct control.
‘Parliament to decide final shape of the Bill'
PTI reports: The Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, today said it is for Parliament to decide what should be the final shape of the legislation.
“It is the job of Parliament to legislate. We(government) had several rounds of discussion with him (Anna Hazare) and his team. We know their viewpoints. About nine-rounds of meetings have already been held with them. Thereafter also, through interlocutors some discussions also took place with them,” Mr Mukherjee told reporters in Kolkata.