Lokpal bill passed in Lok Sabha

December 27, 2011 | Politics | Written by

New Delhi, Dec 27: The government Tuesday night moved a step forward to create an all-powerful anti-graft ombudsman after the Lok Sabha passed the historic Lokpal bill following a day-long stormy debate over the legislation.

The bill now needs a nod from the Rajya Sabha before it is enacted as a law.

The Rajya Sabha will be debating the contentious issue Wednesday.

Ahead of the vote on the bill, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party staged a walkout, saying that the bill was not ‘strong’ enough and was passed by parliament in haste and under pressure from Anna Hazare.

Hazare is sitting on a three-day fast in Mumbai to press for a stronger Lokpal.

IANS