‘Helpless’ MPs feel the heat
“Jo dar gaya, wo mar gaya (one who gets panicky, loses out)” was the reaction of some Union ministers after the government introduced the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday following heated arguments.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party leader in the Lok Sabha Anant Geete virtually demanded a conscience vote on this bill to be taken up for consideration and passing in the second leg of the session beginning from December 27. They asked the government (UPA constituents) not to issue a whip for their MPs asking them to remain present and vote in favour of the bill.
MPs were seen feeling helpless in Parliament House fearing that the bill will weaken Parliament and check MPs by Lokpal.
While UPA ministers privately concede that the bill was introduced under the pressure of the civil society and electronic media, they fear it will affect the government and make bureaucracy passive.
Some Union ministers said MPs want the Members of Parliament Local Area Development scheme to be scrapped if the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 is passed.
“MPs are approaching us to scrap the MPLADS under which each MP gets `5 crore per annum for works to be taken up in his or her constituency under it. They fear that they could be defamed by misusing RTI and Lokpal,” they said.
While some UPA MPs feel that the government should have political managers than experts, academicians, the Congress MPs are not at all convinced about the need of this bill.
A Congress Union minister predicted that this bill will not pass in this session while a Opposition member said it would be like the Women’s Reservation Bill. “Parties continue to support but MPs will oppose.”
It will be Team Anna and not the government which can get credit for Lokpal if the bill is passed.
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