New Delhi, Jan 1 (IANS) The New Year’s day Wednesday saw President Pranab Mukherjee giving assent to the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill for setting up of an ombudsman.
The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Dec 17 and thed Lok Sabha the following day. It was forwarded to Rashtrapati Bhavan for the president’s assent.
The president has signed the Lokpal Bill, presidential house sources said.
The Lok Sabha secretariat sent a copy of the bill to the law ministry on Tuesday evening with the signature of Speaker Meira Kumar. It was then forwarded to Rashtrapati Bhavan for the president’s signature.
The movement for a Lokpal bill got steam after the agitation launched by social activist Anna Hazare. Earlier, he had voiced disapproval over the initial draft. He gave his thumbs up to the Lokpal bill during his recent fast in Ralegan-Siddhi in Maharashtra.
The ruling Congress had made a fervent appeal to political parties to pass the bill during the winter session of parliament.