Bansal exudes confidence for passage of Lokpal Bill during budget session

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has exuded confidence for the passing of a strong and effective Lokpal Bill during the ongoing budget session of parliament.

"Lokpal bill could not be passed on the last day of the winter session because time was short and there were a lot of amendments. There is a rule that the notices of the earlier session are nullified and not carried over to the next session, so we are accepting new notices on it," Bansal told the media here.

"We have to go through them and analyse these notices. I just want to confidently declare and assure everybody that the bill is pending. A strong and effective Lokpal will be brought into effect by the government," he added.

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

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

Talking about the schedule of the session, Bansal said that discussions on the railway and general budget were the top priorities for the government.

"As you know, the president has delivered her speech. The discussion on the vote of thanks would be held on the 13, 14 and the 15. On the 14, the Railway Budget will be announced, on the 15 the economic survey would be presented and on the 16, the general budget would be announced. Also, discussions on these topics would be given precedence," said Bansal.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who will present the budget on March 16, is expected to set a target of 7.5 percent to 8 percent economic growth for the 2012-13 fiscal year beginning on April 1. (ANI)