Lokpal Bill: Congress gets SP on board, but may need to wait a day

After being the sole roadblock to the passage of the Lokpal bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Samajwadi Party has reportedly decided to relent and let the Upper House of Parliament pass the anti-corruption legislation this week. The Times of India today reported that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath had spoken with SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday which had led to the compromise, despite the Samajwadi Party believing that that bill gave too much power to investigating agencies. However, what the Congress said to get the Samajwadi Party leader to agree to the legislation is not yet clear. [caption id=“attachment_1288683” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] After initial protests, the Samajwadi Party is now expected to back the bill. AFP[/caption] This compromise comes two days after a press conference by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in which he urged all parties to come together to pass the contentious legislation. However, the Samajwadi Party had earlier claimed that it was not affected by the Congress Vice President’s appeal. “Congress has lost the mandate of the people and should refrain from seeking passage of any major legislation. We will continue to oppose the Lokpal bill. We will go to any extent to oppose it,” Naresh Agarwal, SP’s Rajya Sabha MP, had said . The bill also has the backing of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, who is currently holding a fast to protest against it being held up in Parliament. Hazare has said that the bill should be passed in its current form and is amenable to amendments being added later. He has also said that he will break his fast if the draft bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha. However, the death of minister Sis Ram Ola on Sunday could mean that he may have to wait another day. It will then have to be sent back to the Lok Sabha for the amendments to be cleared. However, the Lok Sabha has been unable to function in the winter session so far thanks to MPs agitating against the creation of the state of Telangana. Finally, despite support from all the other parties, the Congress may need to rein in its own MPs in order to pass the legislation.