Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die, Lokpal Bill not passed

New Delhi, Dec 29 (ANI): A day after the government faced embarrassment in Lok Sabha following the defeat of Constitution (116th Amendment) Bill on the Lokpal, the Congress-led UPA Government today faced another debacle when the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die amidst chaos.

The government was not able to put up its stand on the anti-graft legislation, as a united opposition cornered the government on issues concerning several amendments.

Due to the constant threat of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, the brief Winter Session of Parliament was extended for three days to discuss the contentious issue of Lokpal. However, the extended session was slated to conclude on December 29.

The House was earlier adjourned for 15 minutes following uproar after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) lawmaker Rajniti Prasad expressing disappointment with the government's version of the Lokpal tore the anti-graft bill in the House.

Prasad snatched the Bill from the hands of Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V. Narayanswami while debating the Lokpal Bill in the House.

Reiterating the government's stand to bring in an effective Lokpal Bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the government needs time to study the amendments moved by different parties - more than a hundred when he last checked, he said.

He also stressed that it is the prerogative of the government to decide when the vote will take place.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley, however, accused the government of consciously choreographing the debate in a manner that the debate cannot be concluded and voting cannot take place.

"We are ready to sit all night. The government is running away from the House," said Jaitley.

"The government has consciously choreographed this debate in a manner that the debate cannot be concluded today and a vote cannot take place. A government that runs away from Parliament does not have the right to stay in office for a minute longer," he added.

Meanwhile, senior Communist Party of India-Marxist lawmaker Sitaram Yechury said: "Tell us what the plan is for the vote. When will it take place? If you don't have a plan." (ANI)