“We are very happy with the outcome of the all party meeting Sunday…we are confident we can take the process forward to bring the Bill in the Monsoon Session and pass it as soon as possible,” Home Minister P Chidambaram told media here
He said that all party meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emphasised the primacy of the Parliamentary process and the role of political parties to pilot and approve legislations.
“We will therefore bring a Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament. That Bill will be examined. Every effort will be made to pass the Bill at the earliest. But that will depend on the members of Parliament and their desire to follow established procedures,” he said.
Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal made it very clear that the government had promised to bring the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament in the Monsoon Session but there was no commitment on the timeline of passing the same. Sibal however said that two parties which took part in the all party meeting suggested that the Bill could be passed in the Winter Session.
Reflecting their eagerness to build a consensus, the union ministers said there was nothing wrong in a number of political parties, including BJP not spelling out their stand on contentious provisions of the Bill like bringing Prime Minister and the higher judiciary under Lokpal’s ambit.
Chidambaram said it was “legitimate and valid” that most parties reserved their views on the provisions of the Bill till it will be brought before Parliament.
Sibal pointed out that leaders of many political parties wondered at the definition of the civil society and wanted to know whether five members led by Hazare represented the entire civil society of India