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Leader of the Lok Sabha, Mr Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday asserted that the Lower House should find solutions to the Lokpal impasse within the Constitutional framework without compromising Parliamentary supremacy.
Making identical statements in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the issues relating to setting up of a Lokpal, Mr Mukherjee said that the specific issues raised by social activist Mr Anna Hazare are "important" and that "they deserve our serious consideration".
Noting that the country was at the "cross-roads" in view of Mr Anna Hazare’s fast, Mr Mukherjee asked the lawmakers in both Houses to discuss three key issues raised by him so as to provide a "sense of the House" to Mr Hazare.
The discussion that later took place in the Lower House, after a statement was made by the Finance Minister, was neither under rule 193 or 184, sources said.
The three substantive issues relate to bringing all central government employees within the jurisdiction of the Lokpal, applicability of the Lokpal Bill in the institution of the Lok Ayukt in all States and also the aspect of empowering Lokpal to punish all those who violate the ‘grievance redressal mechanism’ to be put in place.
"In case a consensus emerges at the end of today’s discussions, the Standing Committee will, in the course of their deliberations, take into account their practicability, implementability and Constitutionality", Mr Mukherjee said.
He also made it clear that the Government would not like to by-pass the Standing Committee. This is even as Team Anna had recently demanded that the Jan Lokpal Bill be introduced within four days and also a commitment be provided by the Government that this Bill will not be referred to Standing Committee.
Mr Mukherjee said that the Government has amply demonstrated that it is sensitive to the common man’s concern about corruption. "It has also requested Shri Anna Hazare ji to give up his fast by assuring him that all issues raised by him will be duly discussed by the Standing Committee when finalising the Lokpal Bill", he said.
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