India parliament to begin key session on corruption

A crucial session of the Indian parliament, which is to discuss a landmark anti-corruption law, is set to begin.The government is under pressure from anti-corruption campaigners to pass the law, to allow the setting up of a citizens' ombudsman, also known as the Jan Lokpal.PM Manmohan Singh has said he hopes parliament will pass the ombudsman law.India has been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals.Earlier this month, anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare said he would resume his hunger strike at the end of the month-long winter session of parliament if it did not pass the law.Mr Hazare went on a 12-day hunger strike in August to demand the government set up an independent ombudsman to crack down on corruption.This would be an independent body with the power to investigate politicians and civil servants suspected of corruption.A parliamentary panel examining an ombudsman's law to expected to submit its report by the end of November.Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has said that the government will have an "open mind and will give a serious thought" to the panel's recommendation.The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says it will be interesting to see whether political parties across the spectrum can arrive at a bipartisan consensus over the proposed law during the session.Though the ruling Congress party and the main opposition Bharatiya Jana Party (BJP) have favoured the law, some of the smaller regional parties have expressed reservations against what they believe will be an all-powerful ombudsman.Separately, the BJP has decided to "boycott" federal Home Minister P Chidambaram for his alleged role in a telecoms bribery scam. Mr Chidambaram denies any wrongdoing."We will neither listen to him, nor allow him to speak in parliament," BJP leader SS Ahluwalia said.The alleged telecoms scam, which may have cost the country $39bn (£23bn), is one of a number of scandals that have rocked the government recently.Others include suspected financial malpractice linked to the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and accusations that homes for war widows were diverted to civil servants.Mr Hazare's campaign to strengthen anti-corruption laws has received widespread support, with tens of thousands of people attending protests across the country.Separately, opposition parties are likely to press for a debate on rising prices, demands for the creation of a new state of Telangana in Andhra Pradesh, and recent developments in India-Pakistan ties.A number of other key bills are expected to be tabled during the winter session.They include proposed laws aimed at providing protection for whistleblowers, guaranteeing cheap food for the majority of Indians and empowering people to complain against judges accused of corruption.Reports say the government plans to bring 31 bills for passage during the new parliament session.