New Delhi: The Lokpal Bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha yesterday by Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office V Narayanasamy amid uproar over various issues.
The bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the institution of an ombudsman to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, the main opposition party, had offered to pass the bill in din without debate if it was tabled as amended by the select committee of the Rajya Sabha.
However, sources say Chairman M Hamid Ansari rejected the idea and insisted that the bill cannot be passed without debate. The upper house was adjourned till 2.30 p.m. soon after the bill was introduced as members continued to create din on various issues.
Ex-home secretary R K Singh joins BJP
New Delhi: Former home secretary R K Singh yesterday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Singh, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Bihar cadre (1975 batch) was home secretary from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013.
As district magistrate of Samastipur, he was instrumental in the arrest of senior party leader L K Advani during the latter’s Rath Yatra in 1990. “I share BJP’s hardline orientation on issues of national security. BJP and its other associates like RSS never compromise on this. Other parties tend to compromise due to their vote banks,” Singh said after formally joining the party in the presence of president Rajnath Singh.
Vasundhara sworn in as chief minister
Jaipur: Vasundhara Raje yesterday was sworn in the Rajasthan chief minister for the second time after the BJP wrested the state from the Congress in the state assembly polls. Vasundhara Raje, 60, who served as the chief minister in an earlier stint from 2003 to 2008, was administered the oath by Governor Margaret Alva at the Rajasthan assembly building here in the presence of thousands of BJP activists and leaders.
Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, party president Rajnath Singh, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh, and former party president Nitin Gadkari, were among those who attended.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot of the Congress was also present. A huge crowd of party workers thronged the Janpath Road — leading to the state assembly building — where sitting arrangement was made so that the people could watch the ceremony.
IANS
