The cabinet will meet today and discuss the amended Lokpal Bill. Sources said that the cabinet will almost say yes to the amended Lokpal Bill. Once the cabinet nods, the bill will be forwarded to the joint parliamentary panel for the approval. While social crusader Anna Hazare and his team staged India against corruption campaign for amendment of Lokpal Bill, the government nodded for the same to ensure Anna withdrew his fast. However, the Centre later made some amendments to Lokpal Bill. Even though Anna and his team opposed the amended bill and termed it as Jokpal Bill, the determined Centre seems to be going ahead with the bill.

The amendments made to the original Jan Lokpal Bill include:  removal of lokayuktas in the state and Lokpal can be removed if 100 MPs complain to the President. Despite the amendments, Lokpal Bill is being opposed by several parties including UPA ally Trinamul Congress party.

We have to wait and see whether Lokpal Bill will be passed by the joint parliamentary panel.

(Phani)