Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley gave a notice for suspension of Question Hour on Monday, so that the Lokpal Bill can be passed tomorrow.
Earlier today, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) skipped the all-party meeting called by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari so that the deadlock over the Lokpal Bill could be ended.
The SP has said that it was opposed to the bill. The BSP too is said to have its reservations. Other parties have reportedly agreed to pass the anti-graft bill.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath asserted, while talking exclusively to Zee News, said that if need be, the Winter Session of Parliament could be extended to pass the Lokpal Bill.
The bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Friday but could not be debated as the SP created a din. However, the BJP has said that it was ready to pass the bill in the din also.
The bill could not be taken up today either as the House was adjourned after an obituary reference to member and Congress leader Sis Ram Ola, who died on Sunday.
In a related event, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi last week urged all parties to come together to pass the bill. On the other hand, social activist Anna Hazare is on a fast in his native village to press for the anti-graft bill. However, he has expressed satisfaction with the government`s version of the bill, even though his one-time aide and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has called it a weak bill.
