New Delhi, Dec 21 (ANI): Amid the standoff between the Centre and Team Anna over the passage of an effective Lokpal Bill, Communist Party of India (Marxist) lawmaker Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday said the entire process of parliamentary democracy is getting undermined, and added that his party would wait for the government to table the final draft of the anti-graft bill in Parliament before making any observations.
"There seems to be contempt of parliamentary democracy that the members of parliament have not seen the bill, we do not know what the revised bill of the government contains and there are already comments being passed on the contents of it. And team Anna is reacting to what is supposed to be the contents of the bill. We do not have any idea. As far as I can see, the entire process of parliamentary democracy is getting undermined," said Yechury.
"Let the bill come before us then we will make our observations. We have made our points of view known to the government in the all-party meeting. So, we will like to know what all has been incorporated in that, what has not been there and then we will react," he added.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mohan Singh criticised the government's Lokpal Bill draft, and urged for bringing an amended version of the anti-graft bill.
"The allegation is made by Anna Hazare that the Lokpal Bill formulated by the Indian government is like a tin box. There is a need to discuss the Lokpal bill and move it forward. A clarification is being issued on the allegation that was made. We had demanded for the creation of a strong and effective institution of the Lokpal and the government had repeatedly assured the people of the country that they would form a strong and effective institution of the Lokpal," said Singh.
"However, the draft that has been formulated, it is difficult to imagine an effective and strong Lokpal. From our side, we would propose certain amendments in the bill," he added.
The Union Cabinet had on Tuesday approved a historic bill for creation of the Lokpal with Constitutional status. A new Lokpal Bill will now be introduced in the Lok Sabha tomorrow.
Anna Hazare has, however, hit out at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre over the Lokpal Bill draft, and raised objections to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) being kept out of the ambit of the anti-graft bill.
"This is not a strong Lokpal Bill. The CBI is out of the ambit of the Lokpal. We will continue our fast plans and during the next general elections, I will tour the entire country," said Hazare, while making it absolutely clear that he would go ahead with his proposed three-day fast from December 27. (ANI)
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