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Indian anti-corruption bill tabled in parliament Indian anti-corruption bill tabled in parliament
(about 11 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. A controversial bill to set up an anti-corruption watchdog has been tabled in the lower house of India's parliament.
Activists have criticised the Lokpal Bill for failing to include the prime minister and senior judiciary within the remit of a new ombudsman. The proposed ombudsman would have the power to investigate and prosecute politicians and civil servants.
Activist Anna Hazare has called the bill a "cruel joke". He said he would go on hunger strike from 16 August. Activists who helped draft the bill say it does not go far enough because the prime minister and senior judges would be spared prosecution while in office. They are urging MPs to vote against it.
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.
Politicians, civil servants and business leaders are accused of robbing the state of billions of dollars, badly damaging the government's reputation.
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Delhi says there is no guarantee that the bill will be passed - different governments have been trying to set up an anti-corruption watchdog since 1969 but on each occasion MPs have voted against it.
Scandal allegationsScandal 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. Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, who went on hunger strike in April to be allowed to help draft the so-called Lokpal Bill, has called it a "cruel joke". He is threatening a hunger strike from 16 August.
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 campaigners and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have criticised the government's decision to exempt the prime minister and senior judges from the proposed law.
Mr Hazare went on a hunger strike in April to protest against government inaction on corruption. Some of the recent corruption scandals to have rocked India include an alleged multi-billion dollar telecoms scam, claims of financial malpractice in connection with the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and the allegations that houses intended for war widows ended up in the hands of civil servants.
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 Prime Minister Manmohan 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.