Hope states pass legislations modelled on Lokpal bill: Government

NEW DELHI: Government today expressed happiness over the passage of Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha and hoped that the states would also make laws on similar lines within a year.

Soon after the bill got the nod of the upper house, a smiling Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was seen shaking hands with his Cabinet colleagues, apparently congratulating them.

Later, Law Minister Kapil Sibal congratulated fellow MPs for passing the Bill.

"They left aside politics to pass the bill," Sibal told reporters outside Parliament House.

He hoped that states will not take long to pass the Lokayukta bill in their assemblies.

"I sincerely hope that the Lokayukta Bill is passed within 365 days as stipulated in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill," he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said, "Lokpal Bill was the need of the hour for the growing lack of confidence in the political system."

He hoped that the bill would come up for consideration in the Lok Sabha tomorrow.