Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha tomorrow

After confusion since morning about tabling of the Lokpal Bill in the upper house, the government today said the legislation will be debated in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow.

After confusion since morning about tabling of the Lokpal Bill in the upper house, the government on Wednesday afternoon said the legislation will be debated in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

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The bill for creation of an all-powerful ombudsman, which was passed by the Lok Sabha Tuesday, will be taken up by the upper house Thursday morning, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla told reporters.

"Rajya Sabha will take up Lokpal Bill for discussion tomorrow," Shukla said.

Earlier, government sources said the bill may be tabled in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday afternoon, and the debate would take place Thursday.

The bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha last week, was passed Tuesday midnight after an over 10-hour debate and with amendments. The amended bill has received the assent from President Pratibha Patil.

Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy said in the morning that the bill would be taken up in the Rajya Sabha Thursday. HOwever, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal later said that the debate may be taken up later Wednesday, adding to the confusion.

Sources say the government has taken time to finalize its floor management and assess its strength, unwilling to suffer a loss of face like Tuesday night when the constitutional amendment bill to give statutory status to Lokpal was defeated in the Lok Sabha.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also met Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley Wednesday morning to garner support for the bill in the Rajya Sabha.