Pranab to lead UPA charge during debate on Lokpal Bill in LS

Dec 26, 2011 |

New Delhi

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Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, government's principal trouble-shooter, is expected to lead the UPA charge during discussion on the much talked about Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha tomorrow.

Mukherjee, who was the co-chair of the Joint Drafting Committee, is expected to intervene during the eight-hour-long debate on Lokpal Bill, government sources said today.

When Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy introduced the Bill, Mukherjee had, in his reply to a brief debate, shrugged off allegations that government was bringing the Bill in haste following pressure by Anna Hazare.

He had also told the opposition parties that it was up to the judiciary to sit on judgement on the provision to provide not less than 50 per cent reservation to SC, STs, OBC, women and minorities in the Lokpal Bench and its Search Committee.

Mukherjee has been involved with the Lokpal issue since early this year and had co-chaired the Joint Drafting Committee comprising ministers and Team Anna members in framing the measure.

After a Parliamentary Committee made its recommendations on Lokpal Bill, the Finance Minister had also helped the Ministry of Personnel to fine tune the fresh bill which was cleared by the Union Cabinet last week for introduction in Lok Sabha.

When the Parliamentary panel was scrutinising the Bill, he had also met with members of various political parties on the issue.

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