Lokpal: Sonia asks Cong MPs to be present in RS

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi has asked all her party MPs to be present in the Rajya Sabha during the debate and voting on the Lokpal Bill after the embarrassment in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday when the Constitutional Status Bill for the Lokpal was defeated.

She said that the BJP had actually committed itself to supporting Constitutional status to the Lokpal in the Standing Committee deliberations, but voted against it.

"But yesterday, we saw their real face. The strength we wanted to give to Lokpal Bill, they did not want it and voted against it," Sonia said on Wednesday.

She added that the BJP can't be trusted.

Her comments came after the government faced an embarrassment in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday night as it could not muster the requisite two-third majority for passing the bill that provides Constitutional status to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas.

Congress spokesperson Rajiv Shukla said, "We do not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha. We know that. We are speaking to everybody, trying our level best to get the Bill passed. If parties other than the BJP support, the Bill can be passed."

Putting rumours to rest, Parliamentary Affairs Minister (state) V Narayanasamy said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is on the Government's side and the Congress will take action against MPs who abstained from voting in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

TMC leaders who met at Mukul Roy's residence have decided that their strategy will depend on the wording of the Bill in Rajya Sabha.

The BJP has hit back at Congress for Sonia Gandhi's comments, saying that the Government couldn't put its own house in order.

"The government couldn't manage its own house. 16 MPs were absent. Don't blame BJP. It's your fault not ours. It clearly shows that the UPA govt doesn't want to fight against corruption," BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The Left has accused the government of being arrogant. CPI leader D Raja said the good should be more accommodating to get the bill passed in the Upper House.

"Bill should be passed but first strengthen it with amendments. Government should talk to other parties in Rajya Sabha to get bill passed. Be more accommodating. We have no problems. Government should be more serious about Constitutional Amendment Bill. Should be less arrogant," he said.

Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party is yet to firm up its plan of action to be adopted in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Samajwadi Party leader Mohan Singh said "We haven't decided our floor strategy in Rajya Sabha, whether we will be backing the government or walking out. It's shameful that the government couldn't get numbers in Lok Sabha. SP believes in federal structure of India. "

After the President gave assent for tabling of the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Government will introduce the anti-corruption Bill in the Upper House on Wednesday afternoon.

Lokpal and the Whistleblowers Bill will be moved at 2 PM in Rajya Sabha, the government said.

The key to passing the Bill lies not with the UPA or the Opposition but with the regional parties like BSP, Samajwadi Party and RJD.