Parliament adopts in principle Anna's demands

New Delhi, Aug 27 (PTI) Indian Parliament on Saturday
endorsed in principle three key demands made in activist Anna
Hazare's Janlokpal after a day-long discussion on the issue by
a broad consensus among various political parties in an effort
to persuade the Gandhian to break his 12-day-old fast.
Both the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) and Rajya
Sabha (upper house) adopted by thumping of desks the "sense of
the House" to remit the three issues--citizens' charter,
covering lower bureaucracy and appointment of Lokayuktas in
states--to the Parliamentary Standing Committee which is
considering the Lokpal Bill.
Originally conceived as a Resolution, it was converted
into a "sense of the House" after Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee, chief government negotiator with Team Anna, made a
spirited reply to the debate in both the Houses.
He asked the chair to transmit the "sense of the House"
and the entire proceedings of the House to the Standing
Committee for its recommendations so that Parliament could
consider them at the "appropriate time".
The 'Sense of the House' read out by the Finance Minister
and approved by Parliament reads:
"This House agrees 'in principle' on following issues -
(i) citizen charter, (ii) lower bureaucracy under Lokpal
through an appropriate mechanism, and (iii) establishment of
Lokayukta in the states;
"And further resolves to forward the proceedings of the
House to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice while
finalising its report."

There was confusion whether a resolution was adopted by
both the Houses. While Prime Minister Manmmohan Singh called
it a resolution in a communication to Hazare, Parliament
records would show it as a "sense of the House" which has the
effect of a resolution.
The rare action of Parliament came after major political
formations Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party got together in
a bid to end the stalemate arising out of Hazare's campaign
against corruption.
In the debate in both the Houses, the main Opposition
backed government's stand seeking its help on discussing the
three key demands of Hazare.
There was unanimity that Constitution was supreme and
Parliamentary procedures supremacy in law making cannot be
questioned.
Though Hazare's commitment on anti-corruption was
appreciated, a number of speakers attacked the statements made
by his campaign managers on political parties, politicians and
sometimes Parliament itself.