The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 was passed in the Rajya Sabha yesterday by a voice vote.The bill, which provides for creation of an anti-corruption ombudsman will be taken up in the Lok Sabha today. The Government accepted all, barring three, recommendations of the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha. Among the amendments accepted by the Government are delinking of the mandatory creation of Lokayuktas by the state governments and left it on the state assemblies to decide its format .

The proposed law, aimed at dealing with the menace of corruption, will bring under its purview the Prime Minister with certain safeguards and other public servants. The House rejected the amendments moved by the Left parties during the voting on the Bill. The Samajwadi Party, which was strongly opposed to the Bill , boycotted the House proceedings and staged a walkout as soon as the debate began yesterday.

Replying to five-hour long debate, Law Minister, Kapil Sibal urged the states to take up this bill as a model and pass the Lokayuktas Bill as early as possible. He said the Lokpal is supposed to investigate cases of corruption against elected representatives of the public and the public servants.

Earlier, initiating the discussion on the Bill, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said that his party is supporting the bill. Mr. Jaitley pointed out that there should not be religion-based reservations in the institution of the proposed Lokpal.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has hailed the passing of the Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha as historic. Talking to the media, he said this was the need of the hour. He thanked all political parties for their support to the bill.

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also welcomed the passage of the bill. In Ralegaon Siddhi Anna Hazare expressed hope that the right conditions will prevail for the passage of the bill in Parliament,and once it gets passed in Lok Sabha he will end his fast.