Delhi:
Furious with the government's approach on the Lokpal debate today, the BJP demanded this afternoon that a discussion on the anti-corruption bill should end with a vote in Parliament. The party then also gave notice for its own resolution on the debate - effectively, it submitted its own terms of reference for the discussion.
Because the government had already submitted its own resolution, there was a stand-off. An all-party meet was called, and finally a compromise was reached. The debate which starts at 11 am tomorrow will not entail a vote; however, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will make a statement outlining the government's stand on both the bill, and its negotiations with Anna Hazare. The 74-year-old activist is on a hunger strike, demanding that the government adopt his team's vision for the Lokpal, an agency that will investigate charges of corruption among government servants.
The BJP's Sushma Swaraj explained why she objected to the government's attempt to initiate the Lokpal debate today. "We were told the discussion will happen on Monday. At 2.10 pm, I was told that at 2.15 pm, Sandeep Dikshit's notice will start the debate. Such an important matter...treated so casually! What sort of message are you giving the country?"
She also objected to Speaker Meira Kumar's decision to allow Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to make a statement on the Lokpal Bill and Anna. "With no notice, you (Speaker) allowed Rahul Gandhi to give us a sermon for 15 minutes, now you want to start this debate with no notice...how are you running the House?"
Ms Swaraj said that it is critical for the government to explain its stand "on the different features of Anna's bill and other versions of the Lokpal Bill." That is what Mr Mukherjee will attempt tomorrow in his speech.