BJP launches agitation against scuttling of vote on Lokpal

NEW DELHI: Angry at the "undemocratic act" of scuttling voting on Lokpal Bill, BJP today launched an agitation against the government accusing it of "murdering" democracy by orchestrating events in Rajya Sabha last night as per a "pre-planned script".

The party specifically targeted Sonia Gandhi alleging she was behind the move to avoid voting on the Bill.

"Yesterday's events were pre-planned and the script was written by Sonia Gandhi," BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

Lambasting the government for refusing to go ahead with voting on the Bill, he termed last night's events as "double murder of democracy" and said agitation will be launched across the country to "expose" the UPA on the issue.

"It was a double murder of democracy as the government scuttled the Lokpal Bill and orchestrated the events as per the script," he said.

The party took out a march towards Gandhi's residence to protest the last night's events.

After a marathon debate yesterday, the Lokpal Bill had failed to get Parliament's nod with Rajya Sabha abruptly adjourning sine die amid high midnight drama and Opposition accusing the government of running away from a vote because it was in a minority.