Lokpal Bill cannot be passed from the streets: V.Narayanasamy

Chennai, Dec.24 (ANI): Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), V.Narayanasamy, on Saturday said that the government is of the firm view that the Lokpal bill cannot be passed by "someone on the streets or in maidans" and warned that the administration would deal with the issue with "an iron hand".

"A team of five members cannot pressurise the government on passing a bill. A bill can be passed only in Parliament after voting. Parliament alone can pass the bill, and not by someone on the streets or maidans. They cannot decide for Parliament. We will handle this with an iron hand," Narayanasamy told reporters here.

Team Anna and the government have locked horns over the Lokpal Bill issue, with the former stating that the bill's latest version is 'weak', while the latter says that it has gone out of its way to incorporate the views of all sections of society.

Anna Hazare, who is spearheading the movement for a strong Lokpal, is expected to begin a three-day fast in Mumbai from December 27 and a "Jail Bharo" campaign from January 2012 to pressurise the government to accept their demands including bringing CBI under the ambit of the anti-corruption ombudsman.

The bill, slated to be debated and passed in the extended Winter Session of Parliament from Tuesday, has also come under scathing attack from the opposition parties, including BJP which is up in arms on the minorities reservation clause.(ANI)