Khurshid disappointed as Lokpal failed to get Constitutional status

Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid has expressed disappointment over the Constitution Amendment Bill on Lokpal failed in the Lok Sabha.

"Of course we are disappointed but we have achieved in getting a Lokpal. We had promised the Lokpal and a Lokpal Bill has been passed. A statuary Lokpal at least has been established but the Constitutional status that we wanted in the Lokpal, we don''t have," Khurshid told the media outside Parliament.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanswamy hailed the passage of the Bill.

" Manmohan Singh and UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi had said that the government will bring the Lokpal Bill in the house in the winter session and we will take all possible steps to pass the Bill. That has been achieved and it is a great achievement for us.

"As far the constitutional status is concerned, we don''t have the numbers, it is clear but given then the BJP , while giving the dissenting note before the Standing Committee, they have mentioned very clearly in the committee, in the dissenting note that they will support the constitutional status of the Lokpal for the centre but unfortunately in the house they changed their stand, their double standard has now been exposed because we wanted to give the Lokpal constitutional status like Election Commission, CAG and also CVC," Narayanswamy added.

Earlier, addressing the Lok Sabha session, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee slammed the opposition parties for rejecting Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi proposal, calling it as a sad day for the democracy.

"The Constitutional status to the Lokpal Bill has been defeated, requisite majority we did not have and it is known to everybody, we have simple majority and it is a sad day that the Lok Sabha did not give Constitutional status to Lokpal and to the Lokayukta in order frustrate the combined and they have defeated knowing fully well that this house we do not have the two third majority; therefore they have taken the advantage of that. It is a sad day for democracy," Mukherjee added.

The Lok Sabha passed the much-anticipated Lokpal Bill on Tuesday to create an anti-corruption body. However, it failed to give it a constitutional status.

It may now be held up in the Rajya Sabha, where the government coalition does not have a majority.