UPA2 chalks out strategy for smooth budget session

V Narayanasamy says consensus on Lokpal Bill is priority

GN Bureau | April 23, 2012



A day before the budget session begins, the government on Monday reached out to the political parties for a smooth functioning to pass financial and other important business without any interruption.

Minister of state in the PMO V Narayanasamy said the government would try for a consensus on the Lokpal Bill that tops its priority. Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the government wants the Lokpal Bill to be an effective legislation.

They did not speak on the differences ironed out, but government sources said the entire chapter on Lokayuktas in states will be dropped because of the apprehensions of the parties and the state governments. The opposition wants the CBI to be under the proposed Lokpal.

The two ministers, along with human resources development minister Kapil Sibal and health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, addressed a joint press conference to explain government's strategy for the session.

The standing committees' department-wise analysis of the budget proposals will be tabled in parliament on Tuesday and the demands of eight out of 36 departments will be debated from Thursday.

While the Lok Sabha will debate the demands of the home, health, urban development, commerce and industry ministries, the working of defence, coal, civil aviation, labour and employment will be discussed in the Rajya Sabha before the finance bill is passed on May 8.

Bansal hoped that the opposition will cooperate in getting this and the three finance bills passed as the government won't block any issue. "We are open to discussion on all issues which the opposition wants within the framework of the constitution," he said.

On the pro-Telangana Congress members from Andhra Pradesh disrupting proceedings for the major part of the first half of the budget session, Sibal wriggled out claiming there is freedom of speech both inside and outside parliament. Azad, in-charge of Andhra in the Congress, said no final decision has yet been taken and the government may decide to discuss the issue with other political parties as discussions with the Congress leaders from the state are over.

The ministers were also posed a wide range of questions, including those on the president's election, hostage crisis in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, Mamata Banerjee, social networking websites and PIL against army chief-designate lieutenant general president's election, hostage crisis in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, Mamata Banerjee, social networking websites.

On Nationalist Congress Party chief and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar's comment on electing a non-politico as the next president of India, Azad tried to philosophise that every group and every leaders has the right to express views, but it should not be made an issue of dispute. Sibal added that any debate on the issue is immature but "we will be working on the consensus."

On West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee's 15-day ultimatum on the Central aid as a condition for her Trinamool Congress (TMC) support to the Bills, Sibal said differences do crop up between allies but such issues are sorted out. "Mamata Banerjee is an important ally and will remain an ally. These things do happen in coalition politics. I am sure the issues will be sorted out," said Sibal.
 

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