Much-awaited Lokpal Bill becomes a reality after 46 years.

After a long 46-year wait, India finally has a lokpal:

New Delhi: After eight unsuccessful attempts in the span of 46 years, India finally got the much-awaited Lokpal Bill on Wednesday. The parliamentarians took the historic step of enacting the ombudsman law by which an anti-corruption watchdog would be established that will have in its purview even the office of the Prime Minister.

The landmark bill was passed in the Lok Sabha yesterday a day after the Rajya Sabha passed it on Tuesday. The Samajwadi Party vehemently opposed the bill in both the Houses and staged a walkout, however, it didn’t affected the smooth passage of the bill in Parliament as every other parties especially the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly advocated for it.

The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2013, was passed by voice vote amid din created by members from Seemandhra region who were protesting against division of Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana state.

Activist Anna Hazare ended his nine-day long fast at Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra after the Lok Sabha passed the Lokpal Bill, however, Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) termed the Lokpal legislation as a "welcome bill" for corrupt politicians.According to-"ZEE NEWS"

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in a brief speech promised that the government is committed to passing no less than six pending anti-corruption legislations while the bill's chief detractor SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav vehemently opposed it.

The chaos in the House made meaningful discussion impossible and a tense parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath even got Sibal to put another legislation to vote, brushing aside the law minister's plea that "it is not my bill".

Speaking on the proposed legislation, Rahul said the country needed an "anti-corruption code'' and it was the 15th Lok Sabha's responsibility to pass legislations that are a part of a "comprehensive anti-corruption framework" of the UPA government.

Swaraj supported the measure but attacked the Congress for rushing to credit Rahul, saying "the people of this country and an old man (Anna Hazare) who has undertaken fast several times deserve the credit."

Earlier, the Speaker allowed the bill, as amended by the Upper House, to be laid and taken up for consideration by the Lok Sabha.

The bill was opposed by SP and Shiv Sena members who walked out to lodge their protest. Strongly criticizing both Congress and BJP, the SP chief said that all development work would grind to a halt. His concerns were echoed by JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav who supported the bill but expressed reservations on the contentious legislation.

A sigh of relief passed through the treasury benches after the bill was passed by voice vote and the House moved on to the next business.

Earlier when the Bill was taken up for discussion and passage, Trinamool Congress member Sougata Roy raised a point of order saying that the measure passed by the Rajya Sabha had been circulated among Lok Sabha members only today. He said that as per rules, a two-day notice should be given to members before taking up any legislation passed by the other House.

Disposing of his point of order, the Speaker said she had consented for waiving the two-day requirement and the bill was laid on the table of the House this morning itself.

Throughout the debate on the Lokpal Bill, supporters and opponents of Telangana continued raising slogans in the well.News By timesofindia

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