SP, BSP skip all-party meet, others agree to pass Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha

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New Delhi, Dec 16, 2013 (Zee News): While the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) skipped the all-party meeting called by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari to end the deadlock on Lokpal Bill, others on Monday agreed to support the anti-corruption legislation in the Upper House.

According to reports, the main opposition party, BJP said that the Lokpal Bill be passed in the din.

 

The Samajwadi Party, however, remains adamant and made it clear that it won’t support the Bill.

"Our stand hasn’t changed, we will continue to oppose the Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha as we have been doing," said SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav.

Later talking to reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath asserted, "Parties which attended the meeting agreed to pass Lokpal bill in Rajya Sabha tomorrow."

The bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha Friday but could not be debated as the Samajwadi Party created a din.

The bill could not be taken up today either as the house was adjourned after an obituary reference to member Sis Ram Ola, who died Sunday.

Sources said that the Rajya Sabha Chairman wants that Samajwadi Party should be collectively persuaded on the Bill.

Ansari had called an-all party meet in an attempt to break the deadlock over the Lokpal Bill. Ahead of the meet, the government said that all efforts are on to ensure the Lokpal Bill is passed in the current session of Parliament. Parliamentary Affairs Minister even said that the current session of Parliament could be extended if required.