Opposition disrupts Indian parliament session

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NEW DELHI, Nov 22, (AFP): India's opposition disrupted parliament Tuesday at the start of a crucial winter session in which the government is under pressure to pass a tough new anti-corruption law. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his ruling Congress party have been reeling from a series of corruption scandals, including the flawed sale of telecom licences that could have cost the country up to $40 billion. With a faltering economy and high inflation adding to his woes, Singh is looking to seize back momentum from his critics and show that, half-way through his second mandate, his cabinet still has an appetite for reform. Proceedings began with noisy protests from opposition lawmakers, who ignored pleas for order from the parliamentary speaker and the prime minister and eventually forced an adjournment for the day. "The government is prepared to discuss all issues which the opposition wants to raise. We hope the session will move smoothly," Singh told reporters at the start of the day outside parliament. Only 15 laws have been passed by parliament in India in the last year, according to the PRS Legislative Research think-tank, leading to fears about governance and the government's faltering reform agenda. A new anti-corruption law, known as the Lokpal or Ombudsman bill, is likely to take precedence over all other business this session, which includes other proposed laws on foreign investment in retail, aviation and pensions. The government was caught by surprise in August when social activist Anna Hazare launched a 12-day hunger strike to press for the Lokpal bill, which drew huge public support in an outpouring of anger about endemic graft.