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| Indian anti-corruption bill tabled in parliament | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A controversial bill which aims to set up an anti-corruption watchdog has been introduced in the lower house of the Indian parliament. | |
| Activists have criticised the Lokpal Bill for failing to include the prime minister and senior judiciary within the remit of a new ombudsman. | |
| Activist Anna Hazare has called the bill a "cruel joke". He said he would go on hunger strike from 16 August. | Activist Anna Hazare has called the bill a "cruel joke". He said he would go on hunger strike from 16 August. |
| India has recently been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals. | India has recently been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals. |
| Scandal allegations | Scandal allegations |
| Activists led by Mr Hazare have been pushing the government for a strong ombudsman who will have the power to investigate corruption charges against the prime minister, senior judges and MPs, among others. | Activists led by Mr Hazare have been pushing the government for a strong ombudsman who will have the power to investigate corruption charges against the prime minister, senior judges and MPs, among others. |
| Last Thursday, the government approved a draft of the law which allows citizens to approach the ombudsman with complaints against federal ministers and bureaucrats, who are protected under India's present anti-corruption laws. | Last Thursday, the government approved a draft of the law which allows citizens to approach the ombudsman with complaints against federal ministers and bureaucrats, who are protected under India's present anti-corruption laws. |
| But the campaigners and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have criticised the government's decision to keep the prime minister and senior judges out of the proposed law. | But the campaigners and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have criticised the government's decision to keep the prime minister and senior judges out of the proposed law. |
| Mr Hazare went on a hunger strike in April to protest against government inaction on corruption. | Mr Hazare went on a hunger strike in April to protest against government inaction on corruption. |
| Some of the recent corruption allegations to have rocked India include a multi-billion dollar telecoms scandal, financial malpractices in connection with the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and the diversion of houses for war widows to civil servants. | |
| Critics of the government say the recent allegations point to a pervasive culture of corruption in Mr Singh's administration - adding to the difficulties of a politician once seen as India's most honest. | Critics of the government say the recent allegations point to a pervasive culture of corruption in Mr Singh's administration - adding to the difficulties of a politician once seen as India's most honest. |
| A recent survey said corruption in India cost billions of dollars and threatened to derail growth. | A recent survey said corruption in India cost billions of dollars and threatened to derail growth. |