LOK PAL DEBATE
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LOK PAL DEBATE

As expected the Government bill on conferring constitutional status to Lokpal, the proposed ombudsman to investigate corruption, was defeated in the lower house as the principal opposition BJP despite public posturing on its determination to fight corruption refused to vote along with the Government. This should h ave brought a sense of relief to our Prime Minister who felt that by proposing this idea, Rahul hijacked the issue. When the bill was defeated both Rahul and Sonia attacked BJP for its double speak but our PM would not because it was to his liking.

If the bill managed to get passed in Lok sabha, it was stalled from the word go in Rajyasabha where opposition held a majority. Mamta didi suddenly woke up to erosion of federal structure as the bill was drafted and presented under article 253 perfectly within the ambit of the UN convention instead of 252 which would have given autonomy to state governments to enact Lokayukta act based on the enabling legislation under article 252. She ordered her members to bring in many amendments and BJP also brought a plethora of amendments. This time around Pranabda could not charm didi and Government had to pray heavens to avoid getting defeated. I do not share the view of visual media especially NDTV who said that Government orchestrated disturbances when RJD member expressed his anger by tearing some papers snatched from Mos Narayanswamy. BJP took a high moral ground by arguing that such interruptions and intervention by the chair to prorogue  the house are a murder of demcracy as if their members never indulged in such unruly behaviour. Remember SS Ahuluwalia deputy leader of BJP is a leading member of fighting brigade during Rajiv Gandhi days. Their member Chandan Mitra was speaking extraneously on 2G scam and had to be admonished by the chair to stick to the point of debate. In the end, Governments' floor management was very poor that they had to look for providential help to avoid the bill getting defeated int he present form or passed with numerous amendments. In either case, the bill would have been in suspended animation,. but the silence of the Prime Minister who is the member of the house was baffling or probably he was enjoying the discomfiture of his partymen.

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