Hazare lauds Bansal's decision to give priority to Lokpal Bill

Ralegan Siddhi, Nov 17 (ANI): Veteran anti-graft activist Anna Hazare on Thursday hailed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal's decision to give priority to the Lokpal Bill during the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.

Talking to reporters here, Hazare said the country is looking forward to the passing of a strong and effective bill, which would help root out corruption.

"It is good if the Ombudsman Bill is the top agenda for him (Pawan Bansal), and this is what the public are expecting. The whole country expects that a good, stringent and effective Lokpal Bill comes into effect so that corruption is eliminated and a corruption-free India is formed," he added.

Earlier, Bansal said the Lokapl Bill that is currently being deliberated upon by a standing committee of Parliament would be discussed with a view to implement it towards the end of the winter session.

"We are hopeful that soon we would get an extensive report on the proposed bill and we would discuss it in the Winter Session. We hope to work diligently towards approving the Ombudsman Bill towards the end of this Winter Session and facilitating its enactment. I am hopeful that the bill will be given a nod in this session," he added.

He also said that it is the collective responsibility of Parliament in to ensure that Question Hour is not adjourned as it upsets the proceedings of the entire session.

"I also think it is the collective responsibility of parliamentarians to ensure that the Question Hour is not adjourned under any circumstances. It is a very important part of the entire session, as it facilitates communication between different political parties. They have ensured that the session would be conducted in an efficient and peaceful manner, giving an opportunity to everyone to voice their opinions," said Bansal.

The Jan Lokpal Bill is seen as a weapon to root out corruption and nepotism from the government machinery and in public life.he proposed Bill envisages the setting up of a national anti-corruption watchdog to check financial mismanagement and corrupt practices that have deeply pervaded several democratic and civic institutions of India.

The 74-year-old social activist had staged an indefinite hunger strike against graft that he gave up on the 13th day on August 28 when the government agreed to deliberate the issues raised by him and his forum vis-a-vis the passage and enactment of the Lokpal Bill, a suggestion that has received unprecedented nationwide backing. (ANI)