A long-awaited anti-corruption bill aimed at tackling endemic graft in India will be introduced in the next session of the parliament beginning August 1, a top minister said on Friday. Kapil Sibal, the telecom minister who has overseen the drafting of the new legislation, said the so-called Lokpal bill was ready after changes suggested by other political parties were incorporated.
“The government is committed to placing it in the monsoon session of the parliament. The prime minister had made a promise and we will ensure that it is delivered,” Sibal told reporters.
“Changes have been made to reflect the concern of other parties. We are hopeful that the bill given to the parliament will be passed with unanimity,” he added. Sibal said he and other ministers were against bringing the prime minister under the purview of the independent ombudsman who will be created by the law and will have powers to investigate corruption.
“Our recommendation is that the prime minister should be excluded from the Lokpal bill,” he said. “The final decision on this will be taken by the cabinet next week.” A string of graft scandals has stirred widespread public anger in India and badly dented confidence in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government.
In April, veteran anti-graft campaigner Anna Hazare went on hunger strike for 98 hours to force Singh to allow him and other activists to sit on the drafting committee for the new law.
