'Steps to be taken for Lokpal Bill passage in Budget session'

With government facing opposition onslaught over the Lokpal fiasco in Rajya Sabha, Union minister V Narayananswamy on Saturday said steps would be taken to get the bill passed in the Budget session of Parliament.

With government facing opposition onslaught over the Lokpal fiasco in Rajya Sabha, Union minister V Narayananswamy on Saturday said steps would be taken to get the bill passed in the Budget session of Parliament.

HT Image

"In the coming Budget session of Parliament, steps will be taken to pass the bill..", Narayanasamy told reporters in Chennai as the political war heated up over the issue with both Congress and BJP sniping at each other for non-passage of the legislation.

The bill, passed by Lok Sabha, could not be cleared in Rajya Sabha as the House was adjourned sine die at the end of a 11-hour long debate on Thursday after the government expressed its inability to take up the 180 odd amendments proposed by the opposition.

On the Mullaperiyar Dam row between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the minister expressed hope that the Supreme Court would deliver its verdict soon.

"Since there are cases filed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu in Supreme Court, Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) cannot intervene to sort out the issue. I hope Supreme Court will soon pronounce its verdict soon..", he said.