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India MPs debate anti-corruption Lokpal bill India MPs pass anti-corruption Lokpal bill
(about 6 hours later)
India's parliament has begun a key three-day debate on a new anti-corruption bill amid a fresh protest fast by campaigner Anna Hazare, who is demanding a stronger law. India's lower house of parliament has passed a controversial anti-corruption bill, amid a fresh protest hunger strike by campaigner Anna Hazare, who is demanding a stronger law.
The Lokpal bill envisages setting up an independent ombudsman with the power to prosecute politicians and civil servants. The Lokpal bill sets up an independent ombudsman with the power to prosecute politicians and civil servants.
Mr Hazare has called the bill "weak and useless" in its present form. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the passage of the bill was a "special moment" in the life of the nation.
A string of major corruption scandals has hit the government's reputation. But Mr Hazare has called the bill "weak and useless" in its present form.
Mr Hazare's 12-day anti-corruption fast in August became the focus of a national campaign and put pressure on the government to act on the issue. A string of major corruption scandals has damaged the government's reputation.
Loud applause
Mr Singh spoke out strongly in parliament in support of the bill.
"There are some very special moments in the life of the nation. This is one of them," he said.
"The broad provisions of the bill have been debated both in public domain and by political parties. It is my honest belief that the bill which is now before the house lives up to the promise."
He received loud applause when he said it was wrong to paint all officials as corrupt.
Mr Singh said it was also the duty of parliament to determine the passage of the law, in an apparent reference to Mr Hazare, whose 12-day anti-corruption fast in August became the focus of a national campaign and put pressure on the government to act on the issue.
Mr Hazare's main complaint is that the bill proposes keeping India's top investigation agency, CBI, out of the purview of the ombudsman.Mr Hazare's main complaint is that the bill proposes keeping India's top investigation agency, CBI, out of the purview of the ombudsman.
In other words, the nine-member Lokpal committee - which will comprise the ombudsman - will not have its own investigative agency, a major demand of anti-corruption activists like Mr Hazare and many opposition parties. In other words, the nine-member Lokpal committee - which will include the ombudsman - will not have its own investigative agency, a major demand of anti-corruption activists like Mr Hazare and many opposition parties.
The government has also kept outside the ombudsman's remit a "citizen's charter" for the timely investigation of public grievances against the government, another demand of Mr Hazare.The government has also kept outside the ombudsman's remit a "citizen's charter" for the timely investigation of public grievances against the government, another demand of Mr Hazare.
Instead it has tabled a separate citizen's charter bill in parliament which makes it mandatory for every government ministry and department to act within 30 days on public complaints about services. Instead, it has tabled a separate citizen's charter bill in parliament which makes it mandatory for every government ministry and department to act within 30 days on public complaints about services.
'Jail protests''Jail protests'
As the parliament begins debating the bill, Mr Hazare has begun a three-day fast at a ground in Mumbai to press for a "strong and independent" ombudsman. Ahead of his three-day fast in Mumbai, which began on Tuesday, Mr Hazare said: "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not keeping his word on bringing a strong anti-corruption law."
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not keeping his word on bringing a strong anti-corruption law," Mr Hazare said, ahead of his fast. There were reports on Tuesday that the 74-year-old Mr Hazare was sick and running a high temperature but was refusing to end the fast.
His supporters in Delhi will also hold protests at the capital's Ramlila ground, the site of Mr Hazare's fast in August.His supporters in Delhi will also hold protests at the capital's Ramlila ground, the site of Mr Hazare's fast in August.
Mr Hazare's aides say that more than 125,000 people have signed up to "go to jail" in protest if the parliament does not pass a strong anti-corruption bill after this week's debate. Mr Hazare's aides say that more than 125,000 people have signed up to "go to jail" if parliament does not pass the bill they want.
But India's Parliamentary Affairs Minister PK Bansal has called the Lokpal bill a "fine piece" of legislation put together after discussions with political parties and members of the civil society.
He said the government had held nine meetings with Mr Hazare and his aides about the content of the proposed law.
Media reports say that opposition parties will seek over 50 changes to the bill during the debate in the parliament.
The key changes include granting autonomy to the CBI, forming a separate investigative wing for the ombudsman and making it optional for states to have their own ombudsmen.
A recent survey said corruption in India had cost billions of dollars and threatened to derail growth.A recent survey said corruption in India had cost billions of dollars and threatened to derail growth.