New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad raised tempers in Parliament on Wednesday as he read out from a copy of the Lokpal Bill even before it was tabled in Parliament. Lalu was protesting against the exclusion of minorities from the proposed anti-corruption legislation.
Speaker Meira Kumar repeatedly requested the RJD leader not to read out from the document before it was tabled in the House.
Lalu, waving the sheath of papers, said the Bill was leaked to the media even before it reached the members of Parliament.
"We will not accept this bill, there is no representation of minorities in the Bill," he said.
"The government should take this bill back and make amendments in the Bill and then introduce it," he added.
Following the huge uproar, Meira Kumar adjourned the Lok Sabha till 2 pm.
Earlier in the day, he, along with SP leaders, had walked to the well of the House protesting against the exclusion of minorities from the proposed anti-corruption legislation.
They were referring to the government’s decision to drop the term 'minorities' from the new Bill. The Bill provides for a 50 per cent quota for the OBCs, SCs and STs in the Lokpal bench and the search committee.
On Wednesday, Lalu, SP MP Mohan Singh and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury had questioned the UPA government's intention, while making it clear that Parliament will not rush through the anti-corruption legislation in a hurry to please Hazare and his associates.
Lalu questioned the need for rushing though the legislation and said that a Bill can be passed after following a due process of Parliament.
"No one can dictate terms to us. Parliament has to follow due process. It is an important legislation. MPs may want to move amendments. How can we rush through it?" questioned Lalu.
At an all party meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week, it was proposed that 50 per cent reservation should be provided to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, minorities and women. The demand for reservation was made by almost all the parties, except BJP, at the meeting.
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