2.20 pm: This bill won't even send a mouse to jail, says Kejriwal
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal who has so far only commented on the Lokpal controversy on Twitter is now addressing the press conference in Delhi.
"The net result of passing this Lokpal is that Rahul Gandhi will get some credit", he said, while reiterating the arguments of his colleagues that the version of the bill that the government was seeking to pass was nothing more than a sham. "The government is not even willing to make CBI an independent body, he said,
"The Lokpal Bill in its current form, won't send a mouse to jail, forget a politician," he added.
The AAP leader also vowed that his party would keep fighting for a strong Lokpal bill, regardless of whether or not Anna was happy with the government bill.
2.00 pm Govt Jokepal is unacceptable to us, says AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party is now holding a press conference, detailing its opposition to the government version of the Lokpal that has been given Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi's stamp of approval.
AAP leader Prashant Bhushan who was also a part of the original team Anna, said that it was important that the Lokpal was kept completely out of the ambit of the government, adding that in its current form, the bill was a complete betrayal.
"An independent and unbiased investigation is not possible if we go by the government Lokpal. Lokpal has to be completely independent of the government", he told a press conference in Delhi.
1.00 pm: Bill is certainly not a 'Jokepal' says Kiran Bedi
Anti-corruption activist and Team Anna member Kiran Bedi has jumped into the middle of the Lokpal controversy, saying that contrary to the assertions of AAP leader Kumar Vishwas, the Lokpal is certainly not a Jokepal.
"Lokpal is certainly not a Jokepal!Those who term it this way perhaps want to keep d issue alive & not want it get started against corruption", she tweeted a while ago.
"Thanku for all d stones being hurled as insinuations ref Lokpal: Being preserved as mementos!(Pl read bill+recommendations of Select Comm)", she added.
Meanwhile Kumar Vishwas contended that the Aam Aadmi Party had no quarrel with Anna Hazare, but said that the Lokpal bill did not belong to any one person - not even Anna.
The Congress party for its part said that it was sad that Anna's former team members were now deserting him.
9.00 am: SP unfazed by Rahul's plea to pass Lokpal
Samajwadi Party was unfazed today by the appeal of Rahul Gandhi for passage of Lokpal Bill, warning it could go to "any extent" in Parliament for blocking the anti-corruption legislation. Party leader Naresh Agarwal advised Congress not to seek passage of any important bill after "losing the mandate of the people" in recent assembly elections in four states.
"Congress has lost the mandate of the people and should refrain from seeking passage of any major legislation. We will continue to oppose the Lokpal bill. We will go to any extent to oppose it," Agarwal told PTI.
SP opposed the bill in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, leading to adjournment of proceedings for the day. SP leaders had pressed for a discussion on price rise saying it was a more important issue concerning the common man. SP leaders have claimed establishment of Lokpal will create a "police raj" in the country and was not good for democracy.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi appealed to all political parties to pass the Lokpal bill which will be discussed by the Rajya Sabha Monday, and described it as a "strong bill" that will wipe out corruption from the country.
The gesture was welcomed by Anna Hazare, although Kejriwal strongly objected and said Anna was being 'misled'.
"I m really surprised. How can Anna accept sarkari lokpal bill? Sarkari lokpal is a "jokepal". Who is misguiding Anna?" Kejriwal tweeted. Kejriwal, who in 2011 was with Hazare, also tweeted that "None of the 3 conditions which were agreed upon when Anna broke his fast in Aug 2011 are there in this jokepal."
-- end of updates for 14 December --
9.11 pm: Rahul keen on bringing SP on board, passing bill
Rahul Gandhi is very keen on early passage of the Lokpal Bill which seeks to create an anti-corruption watchdog, Congress leaders said today in the backdrop of Anna Hazare's fast and AAP making it an issue.
Floor managers of the ruling party said the next two days will be utilised to bring on board Samajwadi Party, which has been thwarting attempts for consideration of the bill in an amended form in the Rajya Sabha.
SP, an outside supporter of the UPA government, disrupted proceedings of the House repeatedly today demanding a discussion on price rise before the Lokpal Bill is taken up.
8.29 pm: BJP disagrees on four points in the bill
Passage of Lokpal Bill in Parliament could face new roadblocks with BJP today expressing disagreement on four points, including independence of CBI and keeping even organisations, except religious institutions, not funded by the government within the ambit of the ombudsman.
In a statement, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said after reading the recommendations of the Select Committee and government's amendments, BJP has found four areas on which there are differences.
Independence of CBI continues to be a sparring point between BJP and the UPA regime. Jaitley had proposed to the Select Committee that the transfer of CBI officials probing cases referred by the Lokpal to the agency should only be transferred with concurrence of the Lokpal.
"However, the power as it stands today is vested in the government. The government can defeat the purpose of independent investigation by transferring an inconvenient officer. This requires a relook," Jaitley said.
5.16: Accept whatever Parl gives, former Lokayukta tells Anna
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde today suggested that Team Anna should accept the Lokpal bill which "Parliament gives now" and hoped Anna Hazare agrees to it.
The former Team Anna member said the Lokpal bill might not be the same as wanted by Hazare, who is on an indefinite fast demanding stronger anti-graft measure.
However, "let us accept whatever the Parliament gives now, let us see how it functions, and if we find this is not enough- the institution is not functioning well- then we will make a demand to bring about the change," he told PTI.
"Why miss this opportunity of getting this bill passed and creating an institution? Creating an institution is absolutely more necessary and important than asking for a perfect institution to be brought into," Hegde said.
Expressing his doubts about Hazare agreeing to this, the former Supreme Court judge said, "He has taken a firm stand on that... I wish he does though (agrees)."
On Hazare's fast, he said, "Starting the fast was for good cause because the government was defying something which the people wanted...; now they have placed it in the Rajya Sabha, I hope for the positive outcome."
"If he (Anna) wants to wait till the bill is passed its okay, because last time he was cheated..., but if he wants to continue the fast only on the ground that some of the provisions in the draft bill are not in accordance with the draft made by his team, I have got little apprehensions about that. Why not allow the institution to be created..."
"I expect the bill to be passed, what form it will be passed is something that is anybody's guess. But surrounding circumstances which is compelling the government of the day and be for that matter even the opposition parties are as such- that they must, otherwise they may not be able to face 2014 election," Hegde said.
4.00 pm: BJP accuses AAP of hijacking Anna
BJP today accused Aam Aadmi Party of trying to "hijack" Anna Hazare's agitation on the Janlokpal Bill after the activist asked AAP leader Gopal Rai to leave his village when he interrupted former army chief VK Singh's speech at a function.
Party spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also ridiculed suggestions that BJP may offer support to AAP to form the government in Delhi, saying it was irrational to even suggest as much at a time when AAP is claiming that it will stop Narendra Modi from becoming prime minister.
He said BJP salutes the agitation of Hazare and condemned AAP for its attempt to "hijack" his agitation.
"The whole country is watching what they (AAP) are doing. We condemn it," he said.
Naqvi said his party was in complete support of the Lokpal Bill and blamed the Congress-led government for putting the bill on the backburner.
3.35 pm: No Lokpal bill in Parliament, RS adjourned till Monday
And any slim hopes of a Lokpal debate happening in the Rajya Sabha have been dashed, with protesting MPs forcing the adjournment of the house till Monday.
Although there was some attempt at a debate, the protests, chants and general cacophony grew to such high levels it became impossible to conduct the business of the house.
Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, PJ Kurien tried to tell rioting MPs that he would "bring action" against them, but to no avail.
So much for the Lokpal this week then. We'll try again on Monday.
3.08 pm: Anna's anger is not an insult, says Sisodia
AAP leader Manish Sisodia is scrambling to do some damage control, after a verbal spat between party leader Gopal Rai and VK Singh made it on to national news channels everywhere.
"Anna ji's anger is not an insult for us. He can say anything to us", Sisodia said, clearly playing the part of the chastened-yet-grateful pupil.
2.34 pm: Lokpal politics in Ralegan Siddhi
Amid repeated adjournments in Parliament that made the Lokpal bill a no show on that front, there was plenty of drama in Ralegan Siddhi, where Anna Hazare has entered the fourth day of his fast for the Janlokpal bill.
It all started when former army chief VK Singh made a speech that was apparently directed at AAP. " Some people are saying today that Anna is because of us, not that we are because of Anna. But no matter what they say, they can't show Anna down", he said.
The statement was objected to AAP leader Gopal Rai who shouted a challenge at Singh. The former army chief then responded saying, "If you feel bad about what I am saying, if you have any misunderstanding keep it in your heart. Whatever you people did wrong, let me talk about it".
The incident finally ended when Anna Hazare himself intervened and sternly told Rai that it was not right to interrupt someone while they was speaking. "If you have a problem with what he is saying, please go out", he said.
Later a chastened Rai said that the party would support a Jan Lokpal bill in its strongest form.
Meanwhile team Anna members are decrying the 'betrayal' and 'bad behaviour' by Gopal Rai and other party members, saying that Anna was very hurt by their actions.
11.30 am: Lokpal bill tabled in Parliament
Not much has been done in the Rajya Sabha, which has been more a repository for plaintive chants like, "We want justice!" but amid adjournments and shouting someone managed to successfully table the Lokpal bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Whether it will be actually be put to a vote is anybody's guess.
8.15 am: Bill to be reintroduced in RS as Anna piles on pressure
The Lokpal bill which suffered an ignominious end in 2011 in the Rajya Sabha, is likely to be reintroduced in the upper house of Parliament today. The introduction of the bill comes even as Anna Hazare enters the fourth day of his fast unto death in Ralegan Siddhi, demanding the implementation of the Jan Lokpal bill.
The BJP has already said that it is willing to extend its support for the passage of the bill even without debate, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said that the Lokpal was a 'priority'.
It's been a long wait for the Lokpal: Reuters
The rush to pass the bill is being seen as a knee jerk reaction to the stunning performance of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, in which they won 28 seats and forced a hung assembly, taking away an outright win for the BJP.
Both Congress and BJP, who have everything to play for in 2014, don't want to be seen on the wrong side of the pro-Lokpal, anti-corruption wave, which has clearly become a poll decider in the elections.
The BJP has even accused Congress MPs of deliberately disrupting the house, so that the bill would not be passed.
However even if this bill is to be passed, it is unlikely that Anna Hazare will be appeased.
The bill that will come up for consideration is a watered down version of the stronger 'Jan Lokpal' that Anna Hazare has demanded. Although Hazare's close aide, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi had given the draft bill her approval, Kumar Vishwas of the Aam Aadmi Party had said it was a 'Jokepal' - a term that Anna himself had coined for the draft when it was first introduced in 2011.
According to this report in the Indian Express, Bedi had said, " After reading the draft, I have come to the conclusion that it satisfies to around 75-80 per cent the suggestions made by Anna in his draft. It is important that the Bill gets passed now. We can continue to strengthen it through amendments."
She had also sharply asked Vishwas how he planned to implement his promise of AAP passing the bill, the Express report added.
Anna is on the fourth day of his fast, and doctors are concerned for his health.
Parliament is yet to see a single days work in the winter session, and according to The Hindu, the situation is likely to continue today.
Most of the parties have gone on record saying that they will support the bill, except for the Samajwadi Party which is still insisting that it will oppose it.
There's no news from the RJD as yet, whose MP Rajniti Parsad created huge controversy by tearing up the Lokpal bill during the infamous Rajya Sabha debate in 2011.
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