Lokpal Bill: BJP responsible for Constitution bill on Lokpal defeat: Rahul Gandhi

LAKHIMPUR: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today held BJP responsible for the defeat of Constitution Amendment Bill on Lokpal.

Rahul said his party wanted to give Constitutional status to Lokpal on the lines of Election Commission but BJP, which had committed itself to supporting Congress on the issue, backtracked on its words during voting in Lok Sabha.

"Congress wanted to give a strong Lokpal...we sat till midnight...we wanted to fight corruption...BJP leaders talked much about corruption outside Parliament but when it came to passage of the bill, they voted against it," he said at a public meeting in Sisaya at Dharaura constituency.

Rahul alleged it was done on the directives of senior BJP leaders.

"Who gave (BJP MPs) the directive to do so? Senior leaders...all senior leaders (L K) Advani, Sushma (Swaraj) were present in the House," he said.

The government faced an embarrassment in Lok Sabha last night as it could not muster the requisite two-third majority for passing the bill that provides Constitutional status to Lokpal and Lokayuktas.

The Constitution (116th Amendment) Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha by a determined Opposition, helped by the absence of parties supporting the government from outside like SP, BSP and RJD.