Lokpal Bill - Controversies and The Present Scenario

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01-2-2012 08:49 PM 2012 UPSC Civil Services Prelim Exam will be notified on 04.02.2012 and to be conduc Home Free Online Tests Resources Exam Results Publications Current Affairs Jeywin Blog Recent Posts Lokpal Bill Controversies and the present scenario Anand B.A., B.L
Controversy on Introduction Antrix-Devas agreement on The word Lokpal was coined in 1963 by L.M.Singhvi, a Member of Parliament during S-band spectruma debate in Parliament about grievance redressal mechanisms. His son Dr. Abhishek 2012 Jaipur Singhvi is now the head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee reviewing the bill. Literature The prefix Jan (translation: citizens) was added to signify the fact that these Festival - A ray improvements include input provided by ordinary citizens through an activistof hope driven, non-governmental public consultation. Figures bust myth India's The Lokpal bill was first introduced by Shanti Bhushan in 1968 and passed the 4th bureaucracy is Lok Sabha in 1969. But before it could be passed by Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha was bloated dissolved and the bill lapsed. The Subsequent versions were re-introduced in 1971, 57th Filmfare 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, but none of them passed. The Awards 2012 bill was inspired by the Hong Kong Independent Commission against Corruption Winners (ICAC). India showcased military might, Timeline and Lokpal bill cost cultural heritage 1968 Rs 3 lakh (300,000) on 63rd 1971 Rs 20 lakh (2 million) Republic Day 1977 Rs 25 lakh (2.5 million) US Presidential 1985 Rs 25 lakh Election 2012 1989 Rs 35 lakh (3.5 million) PM under lokpal Republican 1996 Rs 1 crore (10 million) PM under lokpal Candidates 2001 Rs 1.5 crore (15 million) PM under lokpal Who should 2011 Rs 1700 crore (17 billion) judge the judges? RBI cuts cash The first version of the Lokpal Bill drafted by the Government of India in 2010 was reserve ratio considered ineffective by anti-corruption activists from the civil society. These (CRR) to spur activists, under the banner of India against Corruption, came together to draft a citizens version of the Lokpal Bill later called the Jan Lokpal. Public awareness drives growth
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India and the and protest marches were carried out to campaign for the bill. However, public support sex selection for the Jan Lokpal Bill draft started gathering steam after Anna Hazare, a noted conundrum Gandhian announced that he would hold an indefinite fast from 5 April 2011 for the 2012 UPSC passing of the Lokpal/Jan Lokpal bill. The government has however accepted it. Civil Services To dissuade Hazare from going on an indefinite hunger strike, the Prime Ministers Preliminary Office directed the ministries of personnel and law to examine how the views of Exam society activists can be included in the Lokpal Bill. On 5 April, 2011 the National Notification Governing our Advisory Council rejected the Lokpal bill drafted by the government. Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal then met social activists Swami Agnivesh Governors and Arvind Kejriwal on 7 April, 2011 to find ways to bridge differences over the bill. Age row of However, no consensus could be reached on 7 April owing to several differences of Indian Army chief Gen Vijay opinion between the social activists and the Government. Kumar Singh The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizens ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up A year after by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an Jasmine and independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation Tahrir Pereira hit and within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year. Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde (former Supreme Court Judge and former Lokayukta of run case U.S. broadens Karnataka), Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Lawyer) and Arvind Kejriwal (RTI rape definition, activist), the draft Bill envisages a system where a corrupt person found guilty would includes male go to jail within two years of the complaint being made and his ill-gotten wealth being confiscated. It also seeks power to the Jan Lokpal to prosecute politicians and victims The saga of the bureaucrats without government permission. Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi and other known people like Swami Agnivesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Anna Hazare and Mallika Lokpal Bill Irans blockade Sarabhai are also part of the movement, called India Against Corruption. Its website describes the movement as an expression of collective anger of people of India of supply of against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurize the Crude Oil The Bhagavad Government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption.Anna Hazare, anti-corruption Gita crusader, went on a fast-unto-death in April, demanding that this Bill, drafted by the Controversy civil society, be adopted. Four days into his fast, the government agreed to set up a 116-year-old joint committee with an equal number of members from the government and civil Mullaperiyar dam is as good society side to draft the Lokpal Bill together. The two sides met several times but could not agree on fundamental elements like including the PM under the purview of as new Syria Uprising ofthe Lokpal. Eventually, both sides drafted their own version of the Bill. The government has introduced its version in Parliament in this session. Team Anna is up in 2011 Yemen Uprising arms and calls the government version the Joke Pal Bill. Anna Hazare declared that he would begin another fast in Delhi on August 16. Hours before he was to begin his of 2011 Libya Revolt of hunger strike, the Delhi Police detained and later arrested him. There are widespread protests all over the country against his arrest. The website of the India Against 2011 Corruption movement calls the Lokpal Bill of the government an eyewash and has Mullaperiyar on it a critique of that government Bill. Dam - Two States and a Features of Jan Lokpal Bill Water Issue Egypt Uprising 1. An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will of 2011 be set up Russian 2. Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely Elections 2011 independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to and its influence their investigations. aftermath 3. Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations
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Tragedies across in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in the World, 2011 next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within Occupy Wall two years. Street the root 4. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the cause and time of conviction. present scenario 5. How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in 2011 Royal prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty Wedding of on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant. Prince William 6. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is of England not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not Exam-centric being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a months time. system of You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being Education will siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being go: Kapil Sibal siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will National Food be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years. Security Bill 7. But wont the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal Effects and members? That wont be possible because its members will be selected by Defects judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a 2011 Year in completely transparent and participatory process. Review - Top 8. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of News Makers of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any the Year officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two 2011 Year in months. Review 10 9. What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental Most Fond vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal Farewells will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and Lokpal Bill prosecute any officer, judge or politician. Controversies 10. It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being and the present victimized for raising their voice against corruption. scenario French breast Drafting committee on Jan Lokpal bill implant fears spread around The drafting committee was officially formed on 8 April 2011. It consisted of the following ten members, including five from the government and five drawn from the world civil society. Japan earthquake and Qualifications and status tsunami of 2011 Member Steve Jobs to get Pranab Mukherjee Finance Minister, Co-Chairman Shanti Bhushan Former Minister of Law and Justice, Co-Chairman Grammy for P. Chidambaram Minister of Home Affairs revolutionizing Music Veerappa Moily Minister of Corporate Affairs Large Hadron Kapil Sibal Minister for human resource & devlopement Collider (LHC) Salman Khursid Minister of Law Medical exams Anna Hazare Social Activist need to be as Prashant Bhushan Lawyer rigorous as in N. Santosh Hegde Former Lokayukta (Karnataka) and Supreme Court Justice U.K North Korean Arvind Kejriwal RTI Activist. leader Kim Jong-il is dead Vaclav Havel, The Governments handling of the formation of the draft committee, involving the civil society in preparation of the draft Lokpal bill, was criticised by various political parties
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leader of "Velvetincluding BJP, BJD, TDP, AIADMK, CPI-M, RJD, JD(U) and Samajwadi Party Revolution", former Czech The committee failed to agree on the terms of a compromise bill and the government introduced its own version of the bill in the parliament in August 2011. President, is dead Withdrawal of Difference between Jan Lokpal Bill and Draft Bill 2010 American troops Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizens Draft Lokpal Bill (2010) in Iraq Ombudsman Bill) Killing of Lokpal will have powers to Lokpal will have no power to initiate suo motu Osama Bin initiate suo motu action or action or receive complaints of corruption from the Laden voted receive complaints of general public. It can only probe complaints Top News Story corruption from the general forwarded by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the of 2011 public. Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. AIMA opposes Lokpal will have the power to Lokpal will only be an Advisory Body with a role Centre's move initiate prosecution of anyone limited to forwarding reports to a Competent on CMAT found guilty. Authority. 17.12.2011 Lokpal will have police powers Lokpal will have no police powers and no ability to Indian as well as the ability to register register an FIR or proceed with criminal Government to FIRs. investigations. lay guidelines Lokpal and the anti corruption The CBI and Lokpal will be unconnected. for Hospital wing of the CBI will be one Safety independent body. Indian Prime Ministers visit Punishments will be a minimum Punishment for corruption will be a minimum of 6 of 10 years and a maximum of months and a maximum of up to 7 years. to Russia, December 2011 up to life imprisonment. Koodankulam Nuclear Power Details Plant the The following table details differences between the Government and activist backed Issues versions. Mullaperiyar Dam Issues and The Jan Lokpal Bill Governments Lokpal Bill current Scenario Issue Prime Minister PM can be investigated with PM can be investigated by Impact of permission of seven member Lokpal after she/he vacates Foreign Direct Lokpal bench. office. Investment (FDI) on Indian Judiciary Can be investigated, though high Judiciary is exempt and will Economy level members may be be covered by a separate A Law that investigated only with permission judicial accountability bill. thwarts Justice of a seven member Lokpal bench. Investigating the Conduct of MPs Can be investigated with Can be investigated, but their investigation permission of seven member conduct within Parliament, Let us amend Lokpal bench. such as voting, cannot be the Law, it is investigated. only fair to Lower All public servants would be Only senior officers (Group women bureaucracy included. A) will be covered. Euthanasia Anti-corruption The Anti-corruption wing of the The Anti-corruption wing of Indias call the CBI cannot be merged NY becomes 6th wing of the Central CBI will be merged into the Bureau of Lokpal. into the Lokpal. U.S. state to Investigation (CBI) legalize Gay
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Marriage Removal of Lokpal Any person can bring a complaint Any aggrieved party can UP has lowest members and to the Supreme Court, who can raise a complaint to the rape rate among Chair then recommend removal of any President, who will refer the all statesmember to the President. matter to the CJI. NCRB Removal of Lokpal Complaints against Lokpal staff Lokpal will conduct inquiries Prime Minister's staff and officers will be handled by independent into its own behaviour. Independence boards set-up in each state, Day speech, composed of retired bureaucrats, 2011 judges, and civil society Let us amend members. the Law, it is Lokayukta Lokayukta and other local/state All state anti-corruption only fair to anti-corruption agency would agencies would be closed and women remain in place. responsibilities taken over by India-U.S. centralised Lokpal. Strategic Whistleblowers are protected by No protection granted to Dialogue Joint Whistleblower protection Lokpal. whistleblowers by Lokpal Statement, July, Mahima. 2011 Lokpal can either directly impose Lokpal can only refer matters Aadhaar Project Punishment for corruption penalties, or refer the matter to to the courts, not take any - on a platform the courts. Penalties can include direct punitive actions. of Myths removal from office, Penalties remain equivalent UPSC aspirants imprisonment, and recovery of to those in current law. can now choose assets from those who benefited Indian languages from the corruption. for Interview South Sudan, Investigatory Lokpal can obtain wiretaps ( to Lokpal can issue contempt the new Nation powers make a connection to a telegraph orders, and has the ability to A Law that or telephone wire in order to punish those in contempt. No thwarts Justice obtain information secretly), issue authority to obtain wiretaps, NY becomes 6th rogatory letters, and recruit issue rogatory letters, or U.S. state to investigating officers. Cannot recruit investigating officers. legalize Gay issue contempt orders. Marriage False, frivolous and Lokpal can issue fines for Court system will handle The Libyan vexatious frivolous complaints (including matters of frivolous Crisis complaints frivolous complaints against complaints. Courts can give Euthanasia Lokpal itself), with a maximum 25 years imprisonment and Indias call penalty of Rs 100,000. fines of Rs 25,000 to Bill seeks to let 200,000. 12-yr-olds have NGOs NGOs not within the scope due to NGOs are within the scope non-penetrative their role in exposing corruption. and can be investigated. sex 56th Idea One step forward, two steps back (Editorial: The Hindu dt 24.12.2011) Fimfare Awards 2011 Hopelessly ineffectual and constitutionally suspect, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, Mandela's and 2011 is nothing less than a betrayal of national trust. It is inexcusable that a Bill, his life times substantially weaker than the August 2011 version that was forced to be withdrawn on Why Egypt the widespread belief that it would be fortified in key areas, has been tabled in the Lok matters after Sabha. The whole purpose of the exercise is supposed to be the creation of a strong, Tunisian effective, and credible mechanism to go after corruption, especially political Revolution corruption, which has assumed monstrous proportions in India. The key provisions of Tunisian the new Bill relating to the selection of the nine-member Lokpal, its anti-corruption
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At the same time, the new Bill has sought to keep the Central Bureau of Investigation out of the Lokpals purview ostensibly on the ground that it should have autonomy over its investigations. Given the agencys record of bowing to the diktats of its Archives political masters, there is no reason to believe that investigations, even those that are January 2012 Lokpal-referred and Lokpal-monitored, will be free of political interference. The (19) Centre, which has retained administrative control (read: promotions, transfers, etc.) of December 2011 the CBI via the Ministry of Personnel, knows better than most that he who pays the (35) piper calls the tune. While the proposal that a new panel (comprising the Prime August 2011 (1) Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India or his nominee) July 2011 (5) selects the Director of the CBI will go some way in enhancing the credibility of the June 2011 (4) agency, the opportunity to confer on it genuine independence is being lost. February 2011 (1) Just as problematic is the constitutional validity of some basic provisions of the Bill. January 2011 The inclusion of minorities among the groups given reservation in the nine-member (14) body is bound to be challenged on the ground that it amounts to a quota being given on December 2010 grounds of religion. While this issue has little bearing on tackling corruption, the deep (20) and seemingly irreconcilable political divisions it has created, reflected in the manner November 2010 in which it dominated the parliamentary debate on the Bill, is bound to have a bearing (10) on its passage. Is this a ploy to let anti-corruption legislation fall victim to a wholly October 2010 extraneous issue reservation? Will it be allowed to degenerate, as in the case of the (19) womens reservation bill, into a legislative exercise that everyone claims to support but September few really want? 2010 (21) August 2010 There have also been serious concerns on another constitutional front federalism. (18) While it is hard to fault the principle of having comparable mechanisms and July 2010 (11) instruments to go after corruption at the central and State levels, the legislative June 2010 (15) procedure adopted is open to question. Rather than mandating the creation of a May 2010 (12) April 2010 (19) Lokpal-like structure in every State, would it not have been in keeping with Indias November 2009 federal structure and regional sensitivities for the central legislation to have model or enabling provisions for constituting effective Lokayuktas in States? Given the strong (1) national public mood against corruption, it is unlikely that State governments would
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revolution and its fallout 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards, 2011 Teresa Scanlan of Nebraska is Miss America 2011 2010 - 2011 Tunisian Jasmine Revolution 2010 Sports News in brief Top 10 global weather events in 2010 PIO and OCI Cards An overview on merger
functions and powers, and administrative control over Indias premier criminal investigation agency mock that purpose. In the first place, Section 4 of the Bill, which provides for a five-member Selection Committee to choose the chairman and eight other members of the Lokpal, gives the government political control over this process. Secondly, the separation of the power to enquire, investigate, and prosecute set out in the Bill is much worse than the scheme contained in the earlier Lokpal Bill, Section 20 of which gave the Lokpal its own investigation wing. In allowing the Lokpal only an Inquiry Wing headed by a Director of Inquiry for the purpose of conducting preliminary inquiry into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and denying it its own investigation wing, the new Bill neuters the anti-corruption watchdog. Allowing the Lokpal a Prosecution Wing headed by the Director of Prosecution for the purpose of prosecution of public servants in relation to any complaint by the Lokpal under this Act may look like a step forward. But this cannot possibly make up for the failure to provide for a clean process of independent investigation that is safeguarded from executive interference. At a time when the Lokayukta in a State such as Karnataka has its own investigation wing something it has used to very good effect it is retrogressive to withhold this instrument from the Lokpal.
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risk going against it. Unfortunately, the improvements in the new Bill have been overshadowed by the slew of regressive alterations. The inclusion of the Prime Minister under the Lokpal with certain exceptions is a step up from the earlier stipulation that permitted any inquiry only after he or she demitted office. The new Bill brings both Group A and B officers under the Lokpals ambit. While this is short of Team Annas demand that Group C and D officials be covered as well, it is an improvement on earlier drafts, under which the Lokpals purview was limited to Group A officers. Further, while the C and D categories will be covered by the Central Vigilance Commission, cases relating to them will be reviewed by the Lokpal. The idea of granting constitutional status to the office of the Lokpal would have had traction had the Bill vested the body with the strength and self-sufficiency to make a serious impact on corruption. Unfortunately, a mixture of bad faith and a reluctance to loosen the grip on the handle of power have contributed to the making of a Bill that has caused deep divisions in Parliament and enough disenchantment to fuel a new round of Team Anna-led protests against the Centre. The country is no closer to a consensus on the Lokpal Bill than it was many months ago. CBIs autonomy seriously compromised? A day after the introduction of the anti-graft Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011, in the Lok Sabha, sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation on 23.12.2011 felt that the agencys autonomy of investigation had been seriously compromised. CBI sources said the Bill did not seem to confer greater autonomy to the investigative agencyone of the focal points of the civil societys agitation for bringing about a strong, effective and credible Lokpal to tackle corruption in high places. The dependence of CBI on the government in financial and administrative matters is the main cause for the public perception that it can be influenced by the government and that its investigations are not immune to the governments interference and pressure. They said the CBI Director should be given administrative and financial powers on the lines of the Secretaries in the Union Government. CBI Director should be empowered to induct officers up to the rank of Joint Director. He should also have powers for engaging special counsels and specialists of different disciplines, sources in the agency said. The sources also said that Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, which calls for obtaining sanction before proceeding against government officials of the rank of Joint Secretary and above, should be repealed. The DSPE Act needs to be amended to repeal this provision, as this is one of the major impediments in pursuing investigations against public servants of the rank of Joint Secretary and above, they said. The sources said that Section 23 (1) of the Lokpal Bill, which provides for functional autonomy for registration and initiation of prosecution, was applicable only for cases referred by the Lokpal. The sources said the Bill envisaged reporting by the CBI to the Lokpal, the Central Vigilance Commission, the Department of Personnel and Training, and the Ministries of Law and Home. Instead of gaining any functional autonomy, CBI would now have too many superior authorities to which it should report. This multiplicity of reporting
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would be a grave impediment to effective and efficient discharge of duties by the CBI. This multiplicity of supervision can be taken care of only by providing more financial, administrative and legal autonomy to the CBI. They said Section 20 (7) of the Lokpal Bill provided for the extending of police powers to persons who are not police officers, who would be authorised to take a final decision after investigation and filing of police report in the competent court. This is against the provisions of Section 173 of the Cr PC. In any case, the provisions of Section 173 of the Cr. PC should not be dispensed with. The investigation agencies, including the CBI, must continue to exercise full powers to take a final decision and file a police report before the competent court. The process of investigation, right from registration of FIR till filing of police report, is one single continuous process and a prerogative of only the police, and the integrity of which needs to be protected at all times to ensure quality and fair investigation, the sources said. Citing a judgement of the Supreme Court in 1968, the sources said the police, and no other authority, should be entitled to forming the final decision in an investigation. The sources said the investigation agency could give a status report to the Lokpal/CVC on the outcome of investigation in respect of Lokpal/CVC-referred matters, as was being done currently in cases referred to the CBI by the courts. Further, they said, a provision could be incorporated to the effect that no court shall take cognisance of any charge sheet against a public servant in a case referred by the Lokpal/CVC, except with the previous sanction of the Lokpal/CVC. Legal experts term Lokpal quota politically motivated Some legal experts reckon that reservation in the Lokpal is not in conformity with provisions of the Constitution, and is politically motivated. The former AttorneyGeneral, Soli Sorabjee, and jurist Rajeev Dhavan maintain that it will go against the very principle of reservation, besides leading to litigation, putting a question mark over the efficacy of the legislation. The former Chief Justice of India, V.N. Khare, who welcomed broader representation reflecting the plurality of Indian society, wondered how far reservation in the Lokpal would stand legal scrutiny. Mr. Sorabjee said reservation was meant to empower disadvantaged sections and create a level playing field in employment and education. On the other hand, the Lokpal was meant to check corruption, and reservation in it would not serve any purpose. Such a provision was constitutionally questionable. He maintained that the manner in which the government had provided reservation for the minorities suggested that it was an election gimmick. Mr. Dhavan said the inclusion of the minorities was unconstitutional and in a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which says there shall be no discrimination on grounds of religion. It is a political concession, without [any] constitutional basis, motivated by a political class that is unable to cope with stresses and strains of the system. The measure makes no sense from the standpoint of the Constitution or common sense. It is unprecedented and should not have been made. Justice Khare, who supported the idea, felt that the manner in which the government had phrased it raised doubts about the provisions ability to stand legal scrutiny. I cant say what would happen if it is challenged. At the same time, I believe that the minorities do deserve a place in bodies like the Lokpal on the criteria of economic, educational and social backwardness. He maintained that the wording in the Bill should have merely said there would be representation to the backward classes, irrespective of their religion, as provided in the subordinate legislation or rule. Lokpal Bill passed, Constitution Amendment Bill defeated
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The Lok Sabha on 27.12.2011 night passed a historic Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011, but defeated a parallel Constitution (116th Amendment) Bill, which would have given the Lokpal constitutional status. In a major embarrassment to the UPA government, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee admitted that the government did not have the requisite two-thirds majority to get the Constitution Amendment adopted. It is a sad day for democracy, he said. Rahul upset After three clauses of the Constitution Amendment Bill were defeated, Speaker Meira Kumar announced that it had fallen and had become infructuous. Congress general secretary and MP Rahul Gandhi, who had first proposed that the Lokpal be given constitutional status on the lines of the Election Commission, appeared visibly upset. His idea was also favoured by the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Lokpal. The Whistle-blowers Bill (Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010) was also passed by the Lok Sabha, which literally burnt the midnight oil to complete the legislative business. After a marathon debate, lasting for over 10 hours, the Lok Sabha passed by voice vote the Bill for creation of the Lokpal. Fate in Upper House In the next step, the Bill will have to get the nod from the Rajya Sabha before it goes to the President for her assent. The UPA government does not have a majority in the Upper House and so the fate of the anti-graft Bill will be at the mercy of the Opposition. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill also saw a number of amendments, moved by the government. One of the key amendments accepted was keeping the defence forces and coast guard personnel out of the purview of the anti-graft ombudsman and increasing the exemption time of former MPs from five to seven years. SP, BSP walk out A number of amendments moved by the Opposition, which sought to bring corporates and the media under the Lokpal, were defeated. The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party staged a walkout, saying their demands were not being met. In an intervention, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said a holistic approach was needed to deal with the cancer of corruption but rejected demands for bringing the CBI within the purview of the Lokpal. No entity should be created inconsistent with the constitutional framework, he cautioned. Watch! More to come Dream Dare Win www.jeywin.com
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Lokpal Bill - Controversies and The Present Scenario

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