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Lokpal bill: Indian lower house to pass anti-corruption law Lokpal bill: Indian lower house passes anti-corruption bill
(about 3 hours later)
The lower house of India's parliament is due to approve a new anti-corruption bill under which an independent ombudsman will have powers to prosecute politicians and civil servants. The lower house of India's parliament has approved a new anti-corruption bill under which an independent ombudsman will have powers to prosecute politicians and civil servants.
On Tuesday, the upper house passed the so-called Lokpal bill, a main demand of campaigner Anna Hazare. On Tuesday, the upper house passed the so-called Lokpal bill, a main demand of campaigners led by Anna Hazare.
Mr Hazare says he will end his latest hunger strike once parliament finally clears the bill. The bill will have to be signed by the president to become law but that is a mere formality, correspondents say.
It will have to be signed by the president to become law. Mr Hazare is now expected to end his latest hunger strike after nine days.
The upper house introduced amendments to the bill and the lower house is expected to vote on them on Wednesday. The bill was first introduced in parliament in 2011 after a 12-day fast by Mr Hazare.
The lower house had passed the bill in 2011 but the upper house adjourned amid chaos without approving it. The lower house passed it but the upper house did not.
The bill was introduced in parliament in 2011 after a 12-day fast by Mr Hazare. This time round, in a rare show of unity, the governing Congress party and the main opposition BJP supported the passage of the bill in both houses.
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 measure "tooth and nail" walked out in protest and did not participate in voting in either of the houses.
However, the regional Samajwadi Party, an ally of the Congress, which had said it would oppose the measure "tooth and nail" walked out in protest and did not participate in voting. Because the upper chamber introduced amendments, the bill had to be approved once again by the lower house.
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. Renewed support for the bill in parliament comes ahead of general elections next year and after a strong showing in state elections in Delhi this month 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".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. A string of major corruption scandals has damaged the Congress-led government's reputation in recent years.