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India parliament debates anti-corruption bill Lokpal: Indian upper house passes anti-corruption bill
(about 9 hours later)
The Indian parliament has begun debating tough new anti-corruption laws amid a fresh hunger strike by anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare. The upper house of India's parliament has passed a new anti-corruption bill under which an independent ombudsman will have powers to prosecute politicians and civil servants.
The Lokpal bill, which Mr Hazare has been demanding, sets up an independent ombudsman with the power to prosecute politicians and civil servants. The upper house introduced amendments so the bill will now go back to the lower house for final approval.
Mr Hazare's 12-day fast led to the bill being introduced in parliament in 2011. Calls for a so-called Lokpal bill have been led by campaigner Anna Hazare.
The lower house passed the bill that year but the upper house adjourned amid chaos without approving the law. Mr Hazare says he will end his latest hunger strike once parliament finally clears the bill.
A string of major corruption scandals has damaged the government's reputation. It will have to be signed by the president to become law.
Mr Hazare's latest, "indefinite" hunger strike at his village of Ralegan Siddhi in the western state of Maharashtra has entered its eighth day on Tuesday. "We must listen to the voices outside the house. I hope that
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the majority of parties were agreed that the bill be passed on Tuesday. the bill creates history," said Law Minister Kapil Sibal.
The Congress party and the main opposition BJP have said they would support the passage of the bill in the upper house. A 12-day fast by Mr Hazare led to the bill being introduced in parliament in 2011.
However, the regional Samajwadi Party, an ally of the Congress, said it would oppose the bill "tooth and nail". The lower house is expected to vote on the amendments on Wednesday. It passed the bill in 2011 but the upper house adjourned amid chaos without approving it.
"When a bill that has eluded a political consensus for decades comes close to actual enactment, cynicism must give way to pragmatism and hope," The Hindu newspaper said in an editorial on Tuesday. This time, in a rare show of unity, the governing Congress party and the main opposition BJP supported the passage of the bill in the upper house.
However, the regional Samajwadi Party, an ally of the Congress, which had said it would oppose the proposed measures "tooth and nail" walked out in protest and did not participate in voting.
Over the weekend, Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi pledged his support to the bill, saying it was a "very, very powerful instrument" in the fight against corruption.Over the weekend, Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi pledged his support to the bill, saying it was a "very, very powerful instrument" in the fight against corruption.
However, Arvind Kejriwal, a former top aide of Mr Hazare in the anti-corruption campaign, has said the Lokpal bill which has been placed in the parliament was "weak". Renewed support in parliament for the bill comes ahead of general elections next year and after a strong showing this month in state elections in Delhi by a new anti-corruption party.
Its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, a former top aide of Mr Hazare in the anti-corruption campaign, has said the Lokpal bill in its current form is "weak".
A string of major corruption scandals has damaged the government's reputation in recent years.