Can't say, Lokpal bill to be presented in monsoon session: Pawan Bansal

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal Friday said that there is uncertainty over the passing the Lokpal bill in Rajya Sabha as the doubts over presenting the bill in Rajya Sabha still dodgy because it is not listed in the consideration list.

Pawan Bansal was responding to media who asked over the possibility of Lokpal bill to get passed in this session as it was scheduled to pass in this session and government had pledged that to do so in the last session.

In this response, pawan said, "The Lokpal Bill can be taken up in the monsoon session only if the select committee looking into the measure gives its recommendation by the first day of the session's last week, gives them by the middle of the session, it may be possible to bring the bill in the session."

The monsoon session starts Aug 8 and ends Sep 7.

If the report is given on the stipulated date only, it will be difficult for government to "finish deliberations in four days", said Bansal.

Bills which were ready will be taken up in the session and the government was willing to discuss all issues, he said.

Bansal said 31 bills, including those relating to forward contracts, banking laws, land acquisition and women's reservation in parliament are listed for passage in the session.

Other bills listed include Educational Tribunal Bill, the whistleblowers protection bill, mines bill, and prevention of bribery of foreign public officials bill.

Replying to a question, Bansal said the Insurance Bill and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill do not figure in the agenda. He said a total 118 bills are pending at some stage or the other.

The Lokpal bill has been passed by Lok Sabha. However, if government agrees to amendments based on recommendations of select committee, it would bring the bill again to the Lok Sabha for passage.

Bansal Friday met chief whips from various parties who told him about the issues they intended to raise including riots in Assam, train accidents and low-intensity blasts in Pune.

--With IANS Inputs--