The anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill is likely to be passed in the Upper House of the Parliament with parliamentarians, except those belonging to the Samajwadi Party (SP), gearing up to debate on the issue.
While arch rival of the ruling Congress - Bharatiya Janata Party - has assured to be on board with the anti-graft Bill, external ally of the UPA Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP president, has declined to support the draft.
"We are opposed to this bill and won't allow it to be passed," SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav told CNN-IBN. Currently, there are 9 MPs of the party in the 250-member Rajya Sabha and the Bill needs a simple majority to be passed in the upper house.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath will meet Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and MoS V Narayansamy before tabling the drafted Bill, ushered by social activist Anna Hazare who has been on a hunger strike entering its eighth day on Tuesday. He has lost 4.3 kg of weight and has refused to take glucose water.
"Annaji has written letter to Rahul Gandhi appreciating his commitment to fight corruption, we thank him. Rahul Gandhi is in touch with Parliamentary Affairs Minister and other ministers who are introducing this bill in the Rajya Sabha," Congress leader Ajay Maken told ANI.
Anna sent a letter of Gratitude to Congress and BJP,ie to Rahul Gandhi and Arun Jaitely for recognising the urgency of passing the Lokpal!
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) December 17, 2013
In his letter to Rahul, Anna expressed 'gratitude to Congress and BJP', former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi said. "There is clearly a deal between Congress and Anna," said SP leader Naresh Agarwal.
However, a BJP leader has said that the anti-corruption Bill will be tabled with a controversial Communal Violence Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill, 2013, was cleare by th cabinet a day ago.
Union Home Minister affirmed that his party will try to present the Communal Violence Bill.
This could hamper the proceedings as across party lines, except the ruling Congress, the Communal Violence Bill has been condemned. If it is tabled before Jan Lokpal draft, the house is set to witness an uproar and be adjourned for the day.
