Day-long discussion on Lokpal in Parliament on Saturday

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) Amid a demand for bringing a
resolution on the Lokpal (anti-corruption ombudsman) issue in
Parliament, the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) will
have a day-long discussion on the subject on Saturday after
a statement by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The decision to have a day-long discussion was reached
by the Government after a series of consultations that saw
primary Opposition Bhartiya Janata Party's draft motion on the
Lokpal issue not finding favour with several parties including
some regional outfits.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said
that at a meeting of party leaders several parties found
BJP's motion under 184 that entails voting would divide the
House and therefore almost everyone rejected parts of it.
Government sources alleged that the BJP's draft motion
was prepared by Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan
As soon as the Lok Sabha assembles for the day
on Saturday, Mukherjee, who is also Leader of the House, will
make a statement on the issues relating to setting up of a
Lokpal.
The discussion takes place on a day when when Anna
Hazare's fast would have entered its 12th day. Team Anna has
made it clear that he would call off his past, the moment
Parliament passes a resolution containing three of demands or
at least table the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Hazare's aide Prashant Bhushan, a lawyer himself, said
the resolution approving the three demands of civil
society--lower bureaucracy to be brought in the ambit of
Lokpal, creation of Lokpal in all the states through a
legislation and approval of citizens charter--has to be
brought by the government formally.
Asked about possibilities of bringing forward a
resolution, Bansal merely said that it was always possible and
cited rule 342 of Parliamentary procedures.

The issue could be taken up in Rajya Sabha (upper house
of Parliament) on Monday.
Under rule 342, a policy or situation or statement or any
other matter be taken into consideration shall not be put to
the vote of the House, but the House shall proceed to discuss
such matter immediately after the mover has concluded his
speech.
The rule also entails that no further question shall be
put at the conclusion of the debate at the appointed hour
unless a member moves a substantive motion in appropriate
terms to be approved by the Speaker and the vote of the House
shall be taken on such motion.
The consensus of the House was important in connection
with any resolution after such a debate, Bansal said.
The BJP's motion for the debate on Lokpal wanted the
Prime Minister to be included under the ambit of the ombudsman
and an independent mechanism for his appointment.
Bansal said the BJP gave two options to the government-
either accept its demand for discussion under rule 184, which
entails voting or commence it in the House after a statement
by the Prime Minister or the Finance Minister.
A section in the Government felt that holding the
discussion under rule 184 will in a way tie the hands of the
Standing Committee, which is examining the Lokpal issue.
They said that the Committee, which has to give shape
to a law making process, will unnecessary get a sense of its
hands being tied if there is any resolution with voting on the
contents of the proposed law by Parliament.
The move to take up a discussion in the Lok Sabha on
Saturday about the issue turned contentious with BJP-led NDA
opposing the debate under rule 193 forcing adjournment of the
House for an hour.