Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS) Law Minister Salman Khurshid Thursday expressed confidence that the Lokpal bill will be passed by parliament, and appealed to all members for their cooperation.

“I am confident that this bill will be passed, and I appeal to all my companions (in parliament) to pass this bill,” he told reporters outside parliament.

On inclusion of reservation for minorities in the Lokpal bill, which was added in the bill at the last moment, Khurshid said the government wanted representation from all sections of society in the bill.

“The bill is not for a special class, it is for the whole society, so the whole society should be represented,” he said.

Reacting to Team Anna’s comment of the present version of the bill being worse than the last one, Khurshid said the activist group will find flaws with any Lokpal bill the government may bring.

“Today they are saying the last bill was good; if another version is brought after three months, they will say this version is good,” he said.

The law minister said it will take the nation towards greater transparency.

Speaking on the same lines, another senior minister said on a lighter note that the bill will be passed, if not collectively, then separately by all parties.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, meanwhile, hailed the introduction of the bill as a historic step.

“The bill is part of a larger and holistic approach adopted by the party against corruption. At a time when other parties are just providing a lip service, Congress has kept its promise of bringing a strong Lokpal,” Singhvi said.