Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday blamed the BJP for the defeat of Constitution Amendment Bill on Lokpal, saying it exposed its "real face".
Gandhi said the BJP had actually committed itself to supporting Constitutional status to Lokpal in the Standing Committee deliberations.
"But yesterday, we saw their real face. The strength we wanted to give to Lokpal Bill, they did not want it and voted against it," Gandhi told reporters in New Delhi.
She did not respond to questions on how the government will get the bill passed in Rajya Sabha as it does not have the numbers. "Happy New Year to you all," she said as media persons persisted with the query.
Her comments came as government faced an embarassment 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.
Also read: 'Dubious' role of Opp parties exposed: DMK
With bill giving Constitutional status to Lokpal defeated in Lok Sabha, Digvijay Singh today took potshots at BJP and Team Anna, asking Anna Hazare whether his colleagues would stage a dharna in front of L K Advani's residence pleading the BJP not to oppose it in Rajya Sabha.
"BJP opposes Constitutional Amendment for giving strength to Lokpal and Lokayukts in the States where 95 per cent corruption takes place.
"No reaction against BJP from Team Anna. Now BJP would again try to defeat Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha. Would like to see Team Anna's reaction", he said in a tweet.
He predicted that despite the BJP defeating the bill, "Anna won't speak a word against BJP/RSS", adding Team Anna and "their foul mouthed Tweeple" would still hurl abuses at Congress, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress Presdient Sonia Gandhi.
The reason being "Team Anna a front for BJP/RSS", he alleged.
"Would Anna force BJP and do a dharna in front of Advaniji's residence and tell them not to oppose Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha ?" he asked.
Congratulating the Prime Minister and Congress President for getting Lokpal Bill passed, he told the social activist, "Anna please for God's sake break your fast and prove me wrong"
Taking a dig at Team Anna's influence, he said the media claimed Anna has the support of 120 crore people. Where are they ? Would media please correct their estimates in view of attendance in support of Anna not much.
The attendance at "Hyderabad Dharna chowk -150: Kolkata Mahajati Sadan Complex -80 people. Mumbai: MMRDA ground- 3000.Bangalore- Freedom Park- 150.Ahmedabad Income Tax circle 50. Delhi Ramlila Ground App 1000".
Where are the lakhs registered for Jail Bharo, Singh, a known critic of the social activist, asked.
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Constitution bill: Action to be taken against absent MPs
Action will be taken against Congress MPs who were absent in the Lok Sabha yesterday which led to the defeat of the bill giving Constitutional status to the Lokpal.
"The absence of MPs will be taken note of very seriously by the Congress leadership and the parliamentary party leadership. Action will be taken against the MPs who were absent despite phone calls and SMSes issued to them," Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy, who piloted the bills in Lok Sabha yesterday, said today.
He said the absence of the MPs made him "very sad" as their presence could have ensured the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill.
The absence of MPs despite issue of a three line whip shows that they had not taken the matter seriously and made his feel sad, the Minister said.
Asked whether disciplinary action would be taken against the MPs, he said, "Definitely those people will have to face action and the party leadership and government will go into it. They will be issued a show cause notice".
At least 25 MPs of the Congress and its allies were absent during voting on the Constitution Amendment Bill which failed to get through because a statute amendment needs a special majority for passage.
For a Constitution Amendment Bill to be voted, more than 50 per cent of the members should be present of which two thirds should vote for it.
