Ruckus over Lokpal Bill forces Rajya Sabha adjournment

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were adjourned late on Monday evening after the opposition questioned the government's intention to send the Lokpal Bill to the Select Committee.

Opposition parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Left Front and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), on Monday took the UPA II Government to task for attempting to move the controversial Lokpal Bill to a Select Committee without a debate or discussion on the floor of the House.

Questioning the government's motive in referring the Lokpal Bill to the Select Committee just a day before the Budget Session of Parliament ends, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said the credibility of Parliament is at stake over the Lokpal Bill issue.

Demanding that the government clarify whether it wanted the Lokpal Bill to be passed or not, Jaitley pointed out that the government did not seem to be interested in passing the Bill, and also questioned the mechanisms that were being put in place.

He pointed out that only a Member of Parliament can move a motion to discuss the Bill.

BSP chief Mayawati echoed the sentiments of the BJP, and accused the UPA Government of shielding its inadequacies, and placing the responsibility of passing the Lokpal Bill on smaller and other parties.

She further said the government must follow due process to send the Lokpal Bill to the Select Committee for a review if need be.

Naresh Aggarwal of the Samajwadi Party sought to move an amendment to the Lokpal Bill..

Ram Kripal Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) said that there was no need for such a bill to be passed.

He said the government's version of the Lokpal Bill as presented by Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO). V. Narayanasamy, has nothing concrete for the smaller parties.

The acting chairman of Rajya Sabha, Professor P.J. Kurien, cited House rules that indicated how members could move a Bill for a debate or to a Select Committee for review, and this would be followed.

Professor Kurien later adjourned proceedings till 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha during the winter session of Parliament in December 2011.

The Rajya Sabha broke up for recess on December 29, 2011 without voting on the bill to create a Lokpal before the deadline set by activist Anna Hazare, who led a campaign for the measure. (ANI)