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| India MPs due to vote on anti-corruption bill | India MPs due to vote on anti-corruption bill |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| India's upper house of parliament has begun a debate ahead of a vote on a controversial anti-corruption bill in a final move to make it law. | |
| The Lokpal bill sets 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. |
| The lower house passed the bill on Tuesday after a near 10-hour debate involving speeches by about 40 MPs. | The lower house passed the bill on Tuesday after a near 10-hour debate involving speeches by about 40 MPs. |
| Campaigner Anna Hazare has called the bill "useless" but has ended his fast. | Campaigner Anna Hazare has called the bill "useless" but has ended his fast. |
| He has threatened instead to launch a campaign of civil disobedience that would fill the country's jails. | He has threatened instead to launch a campaign of civil disobedience that would fill the country's jails. |
| Though the MPs passed the bill in the lower house, they defeated a separate bill giving constitutional status to the ombudsman, a key demand of the Congress party. | Though the MPs passed the bill in the lower house, they defeated a separate bill giving constitutional status to the ombudsman, a key demand of the Congress party. |
| Opposition parties have also criticised the Lokpal bill, despite the government agreeing to several changes. | Opposition parties have also criticised the Lokpal bill, despite the government agreeing to several changes. |
| The bill is likely to be put to vote in the upper house on Thursday, where it needs to be passed in order to become law. | The bill is likely to be put to vote in the upper house on Thursday, where it needs to be passed in order to become law. |
| Media reports say there is some uncertainty about whether the Congress-led ruling government will be able to muster up enough votes in the 243-member upper house. | Media reports say there is some uncertainty about whether the Congress-led ruling government will be able to muster up enough votes in the 243-member upper house. |
| The ruling alliance has 94 members in the house and needs a simple majority of 122 MPs to ensure the passage of the bill. | The ruling alliance has 94 members in the house and needs a simple majority of 122 MPs to ensure the passage of the bill. |
| Correspondents say that the ruling party is banking on the support of independent candidates and nominated MPs. A number of MPs belonging to smaller regional parties are also expected to abstain from the vote. | Correspondents say that the ruling party is banking on the support of independent candidates and nominated MPs. A number of MPs belonging to smaller regional parties are also expected to abstain from the vote. |
| "I hope the bill will be passed by the upper house. I sincerely hope that all those who may have divergent views with regard to the Lokpal bill would respect the verdict of our parliament," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. | "I hope the bill will be passed by the upper house. I sincerely hope that all those who may have divergent views with regard to the Lokpal bill would respect the verdict of our parliament," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. |
| Separately, Mr Hazare and his supporters say that tougher measures are required in the bill if it is to prove effective at reducing the level of corruption in India. | Separately, Mr Hazare and his supporters say that tougher measures are required in the bill if it is to prove effective at reducing the level of corruption in India. |
| 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 include 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. |
| 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. |