New Delhi: 1:22 pm: As soon as the Lok Sabha passed the Bill, Anna celebrated at his fast venue along with former IPS officer Kiran Bedi.
Anna thanked the select committee for bringing changes in the Lokpal Bill and making it stronger.
He also thanked the Members of Parliament saying they have created history.
"This is a good step aganist corruption. There will not be 100 per cent control on corruption through the Lokpal Bill but at least there will be some 50 per cent control on corruption. The people will have at least some relief. I hope that this will be made into a law soon," Anna said.
Anna also took a dig at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal saying his anti-corruption movement is not funded by foreign money. "This andolan is on but there is no big donation, no donation from abroad," Anna said.
"There has been a collection of about Rs 1.5 lakh, the cost of this pandal is more than Rs 1 lakh. We will put across the details of the expenses incurred and the funds that have come on the web," he added.
12:55 pm: Anna celebrates the passage of Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha.
12:48 pm: The Lok Sabha has passed Lokpal Bill amidst uproar over Telangana.
12:40 pm: Mulayam Singh requests Sonia Gandhi to withdraw the bill. The Samajwadi Party boycotts the Bill and walks out of the Lok Sabha.
12:30 pm: Rahul Gandhi said that the Lokpal Bill alone is not enough to fight corruption. "It is the responsibility of the 15th Lok Sabha to approve all six anti-corruption bills. Lokpal Bill alone is not enough to fight corruption. I request for extension of the session. Need to pass the Judicial Accountability Bill, the Whistle Blowers Bill," said Rahul.
12:25 pm: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said that the BJP is happy that Rajya Sabha has sent a strong Bill. "There has been a fight to take the credit for Lokpal Bill. It's Anna Hazare who should get the credit for this Bill. Anna has been fasting for a strong Lokpal Bill. It is the people of India who should be given the credit," Swaraj said.
"We need a strong bill against corruption that fulfills the people's aspiration. I am happy that Rajya Sabha has sent a strong bill, with 15 amendments," she said.
The Lokpal Bill has been taken in Lok Sabha for discussion on Wednesday after it was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. A four-hour debate has been fixed by the Lok Sabha Speaker for the Lokpal Bill.
This comes after a rare moment of camaraderie when the Congress-led UPA and BJP-led NDA came together to ensure the smooth passage of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday to take India a step closer to a strong anti-corruption ombudsman. The Bill was passed with several amendments.
In the Upper House of Parliament all the major parties with the exception of the Samajwadi Party, which walked out in protest against the legislation, took part in the over five-hour long debate and hoped that after the Bill becomes a law, cases of corruption against legislators will be deposed off quickly. Calling the passing of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill a "landmark step", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thanked all those who supported the move.
Social activist Anna Hazare, who is on an indefinite fast for a strong Lokpal in Ralegan Siddhi, too thanked Rajya Sabha MPs for passing the Bill and wished that the Lok Sabha will pass it too. He said, "I will end my fast after the Lok Sabha passes the Lokpal Bill."
A five-member Committee comprising of the Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India and an eminent jurist will appoint the Lokpal. The first four members will select a eminent jurist as the fifth member.
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