New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making excuses not to pass the Lokpal bill, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in the Rajya Sabha Thursday while hitting out at the opposition party for not having the courage to make its stance clear.

Attacking Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, who initiated the debate in the house, Singhvi said the fundamental question was: Do you want to pass a Lokpal bill or not?

"They (BJP) are making statements of stringent conditions in the bill and are saying they want to pass a strong and comprehensive bill but after three months. They are using it (conditions) as a pretext not to pass the bill," Singhvi said.

"If you don't want to pass the bill, say so and have the courage and don't hide in excuses.

"Don't hide from the nation that you are passing the bill and your colleagues in the other house say refer it to the standing committee… please be honest in your convictions and take a stand," he told the BJP.