Support on cut motion and the CBI case are unrelated'
Notwithstanding her support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government on the cut motion on the Finance Bill in Parliament, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday made it clear that there would be no let-up in her party's opposition to the Centre on the price rise issue.
Ms. Mayawati also rubbished speculation here on Tuesday that her move was influenced by the Central Bureau of Investigation agreeing to review the disproportionate assets case against her.
“The Taj Corridor and the disproportionate assets cases were filed against me when the NDA [National Democratic Alliance] government was in power at the Centre. Moreover, after the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the BSP decided to give unconditional outside support to the UPA government. The decision to support the UPA government on the cut motion and the CBI case are unrelated,” she said.
The Chief Minister said her decision was influenced by the need to prevent communal forces from returning to power at the Centre. “Logically, the BSP should have voted against the UPA government, but since it would have paved the way for communal forces to return to power it was decided to oppose the cut motion.”
Until Monday, the talk was that the BSP would support the UPA by abstaining from the Lok Sabha. Sources said the BSP chief reworked her strategy and decided on open support following reports that the Samajwadi Party would “disrupt the House proceedings.”
On the issue of price rise, Ms. Mayawati lashed out at the Centre, accusing it of guarding the “interests of the capitalist class and the rich, who have prospered at the cost of the poor and the downtrodden.”
Indicating that the struggle against the UPA government would continue, she stressed the need for the Centre to change its economic policies for the betterment of the people.
In Uttar Pradesh, the BSP and the Congress are engaged in a struggle of political ascendancy in view of the 2012 Assembly elections.
While the ongoing Congress yatras in the State have targeted the Mayawati government, she said the BSP considered the Congress its number one political adversary and that Tuesday's decision had not diluted her stand against the Centre.
Showing posts with label Parliament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parliament. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
"Govt. not involved in phone tapping"
After price rise and IPL irregularities, reports of phone tapping of senior political leaders provided ammunition to a united Opposition to corner the government in Parliament, which on Monday witnessed uproar and disruption of proceedings.
Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said in the Lok Sabha that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would make a statement on the issue at 3.30 p.m. but an unrelenting Opposition would have none of it. A statement by Home Minister P. Chidambaram was also drowned in the din. In both Houses, the Opposition members demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the allegations of phone tapping.
While categorically denying tapping or eavesdropping on political leaders, Mr. Chidambaram said neither the previous nor present UPA government authorised any such activity.
“After the issue of the news magazine [Outlook] was available late on April 23, 2010, the allegations in the story were thoroughly enquired into. Nothing has been found in the records of the National Technical Research Organisation [NTRO] or elsewhere to substantiate the allegations,” the Minister said in identical statements in the two Houses. However, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) termed his statement “unconvincing.” Its Polit Bureau demanded an independent probe into the matter so that the truth could be uncovered.
“Fully accountable”
Asserting that the intelligence agencies were fully accountable to the government and that they functioned within the law, Mr. Chidambaram said: “Under the Telegraph Act and the Information Technology Act, each case of monitoring of telephone or electronic communication has to be approved by the Union Home Secretary personally, and is subject to review by an Oversight Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. Such monitoring as may be necessary to fight crime, for national security, or for our counter-terrorism effort, is subject to multiple checks and oversight.”
Reiterating that the government was committed to defending the rights of every citizen, including the right to privacy, and would uphold the rights of the citizen enshrined in the Constitution, the Minister informed Parliament that further enquiries were being made into the allegations made in the magazine. “If any evidence is forthcoming or discovered, the matter will be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate agencies.”
“Extremely serious”
Earlier, as soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for the day, the Opposition demanded suspension of question hour and a statement by the Prime Minister. Senior BJP leader and NDA working chairman L.K. Advani described allegations of phone tapping as “extremely serious” and said the members would not be satisfied until they heard the Prime Minister.
Stating that phone tapping reports smacked of Emergency days, Mr. Advani demanded scrapping of the outdated Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and protection of the constitutional rights of all citizens. “Let there be a new law, the government cannot abuse its authority. Democracy has to be protected. We want a clear statement by the Prime Minister.”
Raise slogans
With leaders and members of the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal (United) trooping into the well and raising slogans, the House was adjourned twice, and for the day in the afternoon.
However, Bahujan Samaj Party members neither indulged in slogan shouting, nor rushed to the well.
Adjourned thrice
In the Rajya Sabha, members from the Left, the BJP, the Samajwadi Party and the AIADMK did not allow proceedings to go on.
The House was adjourned thrice during the day and even when it reassembled in the afternoon, Opposition members continued with slogan shouting and protests. Amid uproar, Mr. Chidambaram read out his statement.
As Opposition members remained insistent on their demands, Deputy Chairman K. Rehman Khan adjourned the House for the day.
Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said in the Lok Sabha that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would make a statement on the issue at 3.30 p.m. but an unrelenting Opposition would have none of it. A statement by Home Minister P. Chidambaram was also drowned in the din. In both Houses, the Opposition members demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the allegations of phone tapping.
While categorically denying tapping or eavesdropping on political leaders, Mr. Chidambaram said neither the previous nor present UPA government authorised any such activity.
“After the issue of the news magazine [Outlook] was available late on April 23, 2010, the allegations in the story were thoroughly enquired into. Nothing has been found in the records of the National Technical Research Organisation [NTRO] or elsewhere to substantiate the allegations,” the Minister said in identical statements in the two Houses. However, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) termed his statement “unconvincing.” Its Polit Bureau demanded an independent probe into the matter so that the truth could be uncovered.
“Fully accountable”
Asserting that the intelligence agencies were fully accountable to the government and that they functioned within the law, Mr. Chidambaram said: “Under the Telegraph Act and the Information Technology Act, each case of monitoring of telephone or electronic communication has to be approved by the Union Home Secretary personally, and is subject to review by an Oversight Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. Such monitoring as may be necessary to fight crime, for national security, or for our counter-terrorism effort, is subject to multiple checks and oversight.”
Reiterating that the government was committed to defending the rights of every citizen, including the right to privacy, and would uphold the rights of the citizen enshrined in the Constitution, the Minister informed Parliament that further enquiries were being made into the allegations made in the magazine. “If any evidence is forthcoming or discovered, the matter will be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate agencies.”
“Extremely serious”
Earlier, as soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for the day, the Opposition demanded suspension of question hour and a statement by the Prime Minister. Senior BJP leader and NDA working chairman L.K. Advani described allegations of phone tapping as “extremely serious” and said the members would not be satisfied until they heard the Prime Minister.
Stating that phone tapping reports smacked of Emergency days, Mr. Advani demanded scrapping of the outdated Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and protection of the constitutional rights of all citizens. “Let there be a new law, the government cannot abuse its authority. Democracy has to be protected. We want a clear statement by the Prime Minister.”
Raise slogans
With leaders and members of the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal (United) trooping into the well and raising slogans, the House was adjourned twice, and for the day in the afternoon.
However, Bahujan Samaj Party members neither indulged in slogan shouting, nor rushed to the well.
Adjourned thrice
In the Rajya Sabha, members from the Left, the BJP, the Samajwadi Party and the AIADMK did not allow proceedings to go on.
The House was adjourned thrice during the day and even when it reassembled in the afternoon, Opposition members continued with slogan shouting and protests. Amid uproar, Mr. Chidambaram read out his statement.
As Opposition members remained insistent on their demands, Deputy Chairman K. Rehman Khan adjourned the House for the day.
Monday, April 5, 2010
All-party meeting on women's Bill today
After the recent ruckus in Rajya Sabha, the government wants to play it safe
Finance Minister and Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee has convened a meeting of all-party floor leaders in the Lok Sabha on Monday to discuss the Women's Reservation Bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 9.
The government intends to table the Bill for consideration and approval of the Lok Sabha. If ratified by at least half of the State Legislative Assemblies, the Bill will become effective, and thus the 108th Amendment to the Constitution will be made.
The Bill provides 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and Assemblies. The Upper House adopted the long-pending Bill with 191 members supporting it and a lone member saying no.
The Lok Sabha is scheduled to resume its Budget session from April 15, after a nearly month-long recess.
The all-party meeting is a sequel to an assurance given by Mr. Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha on March 11 that the government would consult all concerned before bringing the Bill for consideration of the House. As disturbances caused by some Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha are still fresh in everyone's mind, the government wants to play it safe and has decided to hold a free and fair talk with representatives of all the parties.
It is also necessary as Lalu Prasad of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Mulayam Singh of the Samajwadi Party and Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United) had made it clear that they would not allow the passage of the Bill unless the government came out with sub-quota for Other Backward Class women and Muslim women.
Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily, hinting that the Bill may be tabled in its present form, refused to answer a “hypothetical question” on whether the government would reconsider changes suggested by some Opposition parties. “The Bill has already been passed by the Rajya Sabha and it is before the Lok Sabha for its consideration. That's it..,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has already hinted that the Bharatiya Janata Party would attend the meeting with an open mind. She refused to comment on what would her party's stand be if the government tried to dilute the percentage.Sunday, March 14, 2010
‘Air India at disadvantage against private airlines’
Noting that Air India was reportedly at a disadvantage vis-a-vis the private players, a Parliamentary Committee has asked the government to make rules to penalise those airlines which were not operating 10 per cent of their capacity to socially important but commercially unviable routes like the Northeast.
The recommendation of the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) came in the wake of reports that the State-run Air India was facing a disadvantage as profitable routes in both domestic and international sectors were being allocated to private carriers.
Noting that these reports cannot be ignored, the COPU sought amendments to the Route Dispersal Guidelines to ensure “strict compliance” by all scheduled airlines to mandatorily operate 10 per cent of their flights to such sectors, called Category-II, II-A or III routes.
It suggested that airlines be compensated for operating flights in these far-flung regions in excess of this mandatory requirement.
The COPU report, tabled in Parliament on Friday, also sought creation of a mechanism to make these guidelines “mandatory for all private airlines and for punitive action against the violators.”
It listed out over 80 international and domestic routes from where Air India withdrew flights since 2002-03.
In the process of finalising its report, the COPU raised a large number of questions on the issue of route allocations, including about complaints that “remunerative routes are being surrendered” by the national carrier to private airlines.
It also wanted to know who decided the routes to be operated by the airline — the Ministry or the airline — and the considerations on which the decision to surrender a route was based. To this, Air India replied that it decided the routes it would operate on its own.
The airline officials, while deposing before the COPU, said several loss-making routes were taken off its network, while flights from some more were withdrawn due to shortage of aircraft.
The Committee asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to conduct a “transparent review” of the entire route and slot allocations in domestic and international sectors.
After the review, the Ministry should “effect necessary changes” to ensure that Air India was “neither put to any disadvantage nor appear to be placed in any disadvantageous position”, the COPU said.
The recommendation of the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) came in the wake of reports that the State-run Air India was facing a disadvantage as profitable routes in both domestic and international sectors were being allocated to private carriers.
Noting that these reports cannot be ignored, the COPU sought amendments to the Route Dispersal Guidelines to ensure “strict compliance” by all scheduled airlines to mandatorily operate 10 per cent of their flights to such sectors, called Category-II, II-A or III routes.
It suggested that airlines be compensated for operating flights in these far-flung regions in excess of this mandatory requirement.
The COPU report, tabled in Parliament on Friday, also sought creation of a mechanism to make these guidelines “mandatory for all private airlines and for punitive action against the violators.”
It listed out over 80 international and domestic routes from where Air India withdrew flights since 2002-03.
In the process of finalising its report, the COPU raised a large number of questions on the issue of route allocations, including about complaints that “remunerative routes are being surrendered” by the national carrier to private airlines.
It also wanted to know who decided the routes to be operated by the airline — the Ministry or the airline — and the considerations on which the decision to surrender a route was based. To this, Air India replied that it decided the routes it would operate on its own.
The airline officials, while deposing before the COPU, said several loss-making routes were taken off its network, while flights from some more were withdrawn due to shortage of aircraft.
The Committee asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to conduct a “transparent review” of the entire route and slot allocations in domestic and international sectors.
After the review, the Ministry should “effect necessary changes” to ensure that Air India was “neither put to any disadvantage nor appear to be placed in any disadvantageous position”, the COPU said.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
BJP fears Congress running away with all credit
The Bharatiya Janata Party is busy trying to take maximum credit for the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday even as it openly expressed fears that the Congress would run away with expected positive political fallout.
Leaders of the Opposition in the two Houses of Parliament, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, made it plain they took the initiative to ensure support from almost all the parties of the National Democratic Alliance (minus a section of the Janata Dal – United) and they also insisted on a proper debate and order at the time of voting.
They criticised the vandalism in the Rajya Sabha by those opposing the Bill and claimed it was their initiative that prevented a possible disgraceful presence of marshals in the House during the vote on the Bill.
“The uprooting of microphones, the climbing on the podium of the Chairman was shameful behaviour,” said Ms. Swaraj even as she criticised the Congress for not consulting and taking on board parties of the Opposition that were supporting the Bill. “We learnt from newspapers that the women's Bill constitutional amendment was being brought in in the Rajya Sabha on Monday,” she said. “All that has somewhat clouded my happiness on the passing of the Bill.”
The BJP's charge was that the government was inclined to put the Bill to vote without a debate, which would have also been disgraceful. Mr. Jaitley made the point that it was the BJP that had insisted on a proper debate, after which other parties took the same view. It was also the BJP that objected to presence of marshals when the division was called out and members asked to vote.
The party was also categorical in maintaining that it was committed to this piece of legislation that took to its logical conclusion the process that had begun with reservation for women in panchayats and local bodies. Ms. Swaraj recalled that way back in 1994 after the reservation was provided for women in local bodies, the BJP national council meeting in Vadodara had adopted a resolution supporting political reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. The resolution was moved by the then party president, L.K. Advani, and pushed through without a debate.
Ms. Swaraj also recalled that when she was Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the Vajpayee government and met the then Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, for support for the Bill, Ms. Gandhi had assured her: “I will fully support you. It was my husband's dream.”
Mr. Jaitley was vocal in his support for the principle of rotation of reserved seats envisaged in the Bill and said it would usher in a social revolution, preparing the ground for women leaders throughout the country.
And above all, the party received the go-ahead from its new president Nitin Gadkari, who had called a meeting of the party's core committee to send a strong message to the party cadre that the Bill must be supported by the BJP.
Leaders of the Opposition in the two Houses of Parliament, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, made it plain they took the initiative to ensure support from almost all the parties of the National Democratic Alliance (minus a section of the Janata Dal – United) and they also insisted on a proper debate and order at the time of voting.
They criticised the vandalism in the Rajya Sabha by those opposing the Bill and claimed it was their initiative that prevented a possible disgraceful presence of marshals in the House during the vote on the Bill.
“The uprooting of microphones, the climbing on the podium of the Chairman was shameful behaviour,” said Ms. Swaraj even as she criticised the Congress for not consulting and taking on board parties of the Opposition that were supporting the Bill. “We learnt from newspapers that the women's Bill constitutional amendment was being brought in in the Rajya Sabha on Monday,” she said. “All that has somewhat clouded my happiness on the passing of the Bill.”
The BJP's charge was that the government was inclined to put the Bill to vote without a debate, which would have also been disgraceful. Mr. Jaitley made the point that it was the BJP that had insisted on a proper debate, after which other parties took the same view. It was also the BJP that objected to presence of marshals when the division was called out and members asked to vote.
The party was also categorical in maintaining that it was committed to this piece of legislation that took to its logical conclusion the process that had begun with reservation for women in panchayats and local bodies. Ms. Swaraj recalled that way back in 1994 after the reservation was provided for women in local bodies, the BJP national council meeting in Vadodara had adopted a resolution supporting political reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. The resolution was moved by the then party president, L.K. Advani, and pushed through without a debate.
Ms. Swaraj also recalled that when she was Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the Vajpayee government and met the then Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, for support for the Bill, Ms. Gandhi had assured her: “I will fully support you. It was my husband's dream.”
Mr. Jaitley was vocal in his support for the principle of rotation of reserved seats envisaged in the Bill and said it would usher in a social revolution, preparing the ground for women leaders throughout the country.
And above all, the party received the go-ahead from its new president Nitin Gadkari, who had called a meeting of the party's core committee to send a strong message to the party cadre that the Bill must be supported by the BJP.
Women's bill: why now after 14 years?
There is no denying the fact that the time for the Bill on women's reservation had come. But, why now after 14 years?
This question had one answer from MPs cutting across different parties. This is how they explained: When in 1996 the United Front government headed by H.D. Deve Gowda first tried to bring the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament, it faced stiff opposition from within – Lalu Prasad's party the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Mulayam Singh of the Samajwadi Party were part of the government. Their opposition was fierce and it has remained so for 14 years as it could be seen even on Tuesday in the Rajya Sabha.
In 1998, and again in 1999, it was the turn of the Vajpayee governments to try and steer the bill through the Lok Sabha. Again, unruly scenes made it impossible for the government, which could not muster the political will since the Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Jan Shakti, both opposing the bill, were coalition partners. The government simply could not afford to go ahead with the legislation at the cost of its own coalition alliance breaking up.
The United Progressive Alliance in its first regime also faced internal opposition. This time it was Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal which was a coalition partner. The result was pre-ordained. The Bill could not be passed.
However, UPA I worked out a different strategy from that adopted by the United Front and the NDA. It introduced the bill in the Rajya Sabha, instead of the Lok Sabha, ensuring that it would not lapse with the end of tenure of the fourteenth Lok Sabha. It also figured that when the time came it would be easier to get it passed in this House than the Lok Sabha since it was numerically smaller.
In the fifteenth Lok Sabha none of the three main opponents of the Bill – Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh and Sharad Yadav – are part of the government. The time was ripe for UPA II to take the plunge.
This question had one answer from MPs cutting across different parties. This is how they explained: When in 1996 the United Front government headed by H.D. Deve Gowda first tried to bring the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament, it faced stiff opposition from within – Lalu Prasad's party the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Mulayam Singh of the Samajwadi Party were part of the government. Their opposition was fierce and it has remained so for 14 years as it could be seen even on Tuesday in the Rajya Sabha.
In 1998, and again in 1999, it was the turn of the Vajpayee governments to try and steer the bill through the Lok Sabha. Again, unruly scenes made it impossible for the government, which could not muster the political will since the Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Jan Shakti, both opposing the bill, were coalition partners. The government simply could not afford to go ahead with the legislation at the cost of its own coalition alliance breaking up.
The United Progressive Alliance in its first regime also faced internal opposition. This time it was Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal which was a coalition partner. The result was pre-ordained. The Bill could not be passed.
However, UPA I worked out a different strategy from that adopted by the United Front and the NDA. It introduced the bill in the Rajya Sabha, instead of the Lok Sabha, ensuring that it would not lapse with the end of tenure of the fourteenth Lok Sabha. It also figured that when the time came it would be easier to get it passed in this House than the Lok Sabha since it was numerically smaller.
In the fifteenth Lok Sabha none of the three main opponents of the Bill – Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh and Sharad Yadav – are part of the government. The time was ripe for UPA II to take the plunge.
Monday, March 8, 2010
SP, BSP, RJD oppose Women’s Bill, LS adjourned
SP, BSP and RJD members today strongly opposed the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, with one of them even trying to climb the Speaker’s podium, leading to adjournment of the House till lunch.
The Bill, slated to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, created storm in the Lok Sabha soon after Speaker Meira Kumar welcomed a Croatian delegation and read out a reference on International Women’s Day.
The moment Kumar called for Question Hour, SP, BSP and RJD members trooped into the Well demanding quotas for OBC, Dalit and Muslim women within the proposed law to reserve 33 per cent seats in Parliament and State assemblies for the fair sex.
The Speaker refused to adjourn the House and carried on with the Question Hour. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav gestured his party members to move forward and himself marched to the Well from the side of the treasury benches. Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) and Lalu Prasad and Umashanker Singh (both RJD) followed Yadav.
At this moment, Mithilesh Kumar (SP) tried to climb the table placed in front of the Speaker prompting Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee to request Yadav to control his members.
On the SP chief’s directive, the members retreated a bit but stayed put in the Well and continued to raise slogans.
The Bill, slated to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, created storm in the Lok Sabha soon after Speaker Meira Kumar welcomed a Croatian delegation and read out a reference on International Women’s Day.
The moment Kumar called for Question Hour, SP, BSP and RJD members trooped into the Well demanding quotas for OBC, Dalit and Muslim women within the proposed law to reserve 33 per cent seats in Parliament and State assemblies for the fair sex.
The Speaker refused to adjourn the House and carried on with the Question Hour. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav gestured his party members to move forward and himself marched to the Well from the side of the treasury benches. Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) and Lalu Prasad and Umashanker Singh (both RJD) followed Yadav.
At this moment, Mithilesh Kumar (SP) tried to climb the table placed in front of the Speaker prompting Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee to request Yadav to control his members.
On the SP chief’s directive, the members retreated a bit but stayed put in the Well and continued to raise slogans.
Govt confident of passing Women’s Bill
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon amid uproar over SP, RJD demand for implementation of Ranganath Misra Commission report on minority welfare.
Earlier today, the Government today expressed confidence over passage of Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament, saying though it did not want to “bulldoze” those opposing it, they should understand that equality was a fundamental right.
“I would say that it is a national resolve (to give 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies). In all these 14 years, it has been waiting. A change has to come and this is the day the change will come,” Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily told reporters.
The Bill is slated to be taken up in Rajya Sabha today.
When asked if government would demand removal of members opposed to the Bill from the House, Mr. Moily said this was a hypothetical question.
“Our idea is not to bulldoze things. In a democracy, differences of opinion will be there, dissent will be there,” Mr. Moily said, adding that in a country of 600 million people, differences are bound to exist.
“I don't find fault in this but, at the same time, there are 600 million people and you are not in a position to get more than 18.5 per cent into legislatures. You cannot continue this kind of a domain. We need to provide them (women) the succour....Equality is a fundamental right,” he said.
The Law Minister said democracy required taking “appropriate decisions at the appropriate time”.
The Bill being brought in to coincide with the International Women's Day is expected to be approved without
any hitch with the Congress, BJP and the Left support and backing of some small parties and independents.
A Constitution amendment needs a two-thirds majority in voting requiring the support of 155 MPs in Rajya Sabha for its passage. The bill has clear backing of at least 165 MPs in the House with an effective strength of 233.
The opponents of the measure, BSP and SP, have 12 members each in Rajya Sabha while RJD has 4. Former premier H. D. Deve Gowda, whose JD(S) has 2 seats, said his party would give support if there is a OBC quota.
Earlier today, the Government today expressed confidence over passage of Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament, saying though it did not want to “bulldoze” those opposing it, they should understand that equality was a fundamental right.
“I would say that it is a national resolve (to give 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies). In all these 14 years, it has been waiting. A change has to come and this is the day the change will come,” Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily told reporters.
The Bill is slated to be taken up in Rajya Sabha today.
When asked if government would demand removal of members opposed to the Bill from the House, Mr. Moily said this was a hypothetical question.
“Our idea is not to bulldoze things. In a democracy, differences of opinion will be there, dissent will be there,” Mr. Moily said, adding that in a country of 600 million people, differences are bound to exist.
“I don't find fault in this but, at the same time, there are 600 million people and you are not in a position to get more than 18.5 per cent into legislatures. You cannot continue this kind of a domain. We need to provide them (women) the succour....Equality is a fundamental right,” he said.
The Law Minister said democracy required taking “appropriate decisions at the appropriate time”.
The Bill being brought in to coincide with the International Women's Day is expected to be approved without
any hitch with the Congress, BJP and the Left support and backing of some small parties and independents.
A Constitution amendment needs a two-thirds majority in voting requiring the support of 155 MPs in Rajya Sabha for its passage. The bill has clear backing of at least 165 MPs in the House with an effective strength of 233.
The opponents of the measure, BSP and SP, have 12 members each in Rajya Sabha while RJD has 4. Former premier H. D. Deve Gowda, whose JD(S) has 2 seats, said his party would give support if there is a OBC quota.
Centre unfazed by opposition to Women's Reservation Bill
The government on Sunday expressed the hope that the Women's Reservation Bill, 2008 would be passed in the current session of Parliament despite opposition from some political parties.
“I am expecting men and women to support me when I present the Bill in Rajya Sabha tomorrow [Monday],'' Union Law and Justice Minister Veerappa Moily said at a function here.
He said consensus among major political parties emerged after a lot of consultations but added that no single party could claim credit for it. The Bill has been pending for over a decade.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party has described the proposed legislation as “anti-Muslim and anti-other backward classes'' in its present form as it excluded women of these sections.
Terming the Bill “dangerous,'' SP chief Mulayam Singh suggested in Lucknow that women be given 50 per cent reservation in government jobs rather than a quota in Parliament and the State Assemblies.
The SP has called a meeting of its Rajya Sabha members for Monday morning to chalk out its course of action when the Bill is tabled.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal, too, has said it would oppose the Bill “tooth and nail and is “even prepared to be marshalled out.''
Describing the Bill as a “political blunder,'' RJD president Lalu Prasad said in Patna that it was a conspiracy hatched by both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress to suppress representation of women belonging to the Other Backward Classes, the Scheduled Tribes/Scheduled Castes and Muslim communities.
While there is a split in the Janata Dal (United) over the Bill with the Bihar Chief Minister extending support and party chief Sharad Yadav opposing it, the Bahujan Samaj Party has said it will not back the legislation in its present form.
Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deve Gowda, too, has said that his party will support the Bill only if there is reservation for OBC women.
But undeterred by these developments, Mr. Moily said: “After all, the country needs such legislation and with our best intentions, the political parties could not evolve a system where adequate representation was made available to women.”
He said the proposed constitutional amendment was the only “remedy'' to provide adequate representation to women.
“The people of the country, the women and Parliament will take the credit. There is no partition in this credit,” he said, when asked to react on the BJP's claim that it had first introduced the proposed legislation in the Lok Sabha but it could not be passed following stiff opposition.
“I am expecting men and women to support me when I present the Bill in Rajya Sabha tomorrow [Monday],'' Union Law and Justice Minister Veerappa Moily said at a function here.
He said consensus among major political parties emerged after a lot of consultations but added that no single party could claim credit for it. The Bill has been pending for over a decade.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party has described the proposed legislation as “anti-Muslim and anti-other backward classes'' in its present form as it excluded women of these sections.
Terming the Bill “dangerous,'' SP chief Mulayam Singh suggested in Lucknow that women be given 50 per cent reservation in government jobs rather than a quota in Parliament and the State Assemblies.
The SP has called a meeting of its Rajya Sabha members for Monday morning to chalk out its course of action when the Bill is tabled.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal, too, has said it would oppose the Bill “tooth and nail and is “even prepared to be marshalled out.''
Describing the Bill as a “political blunder,'' RJD president Lalu Prasad said in Patna that it was a conspiracy hatched by both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress to suppress representation of women belonging to the Other Backward Classes, the Scheduled Tribes/Scheduled Castes and Muslim communities.
While there is a split in the Janata Dal (United) over the Bill with the Bihar Chief Minister extending support and party chief Sharad Yadav opposing it, the Bahujan Samaj Party has said it will not back the legislation in its present form.
Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deve Gowda, too, has said that his party will support the Bill only if there is reservation for OBC women.
But undeterred by these developments, Mr. Moily said: “After all, the country needs such legislation and with our best intentions, the political parties could not evolve a system where adequate representation was made available to women.”
He said the proposed constitutional amendment was the only “remedy'' to provide adequate representation to women.
“The people of the country, the women and Parliament will take the credit. There is no partition in this credit,” he said, when asked to react on the BJP's claim that it had first introduced the proposed legislation in the Lok Sabha but it could not be passed following stiff opposition.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Opposition steps up offensive on price hike
Sensing an opportunity to expose the lack of unity in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on the issue of hike in the taxes on petroleum products, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Opposition is drawing up plans to embarrass the government.
The BJP also plans to take Opposition unity on this issue to a new plane even as the Left parties decided to step up pressure on the government leading to its March 12 rally in the capital against rise in the prices of essential commodities.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the “arrogance of power” displayed in his assertion that there would be no rollback of the increased taxes on petroleum products announced in the budget.
On Wednesday the party would plan its floor strategy on this issue and other subjects at a meeting of National Democratic Alliance leaders.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said the party did not accept the argument offered by the government to justify the hike in petroleum products.
In the context of the rise in prices of food items, he said, the effect of the hike on petrol and diesel prices would be felt and cannot be minimised. “People will be put to great suffering if there is further rise in prices, of food items in particular,” he told The Hindu.
As for the Opposition strategy in Parliament, he said while the CPI(M) was trying to bring non-Congress secular parties together, on the issue of price rise, the entire Opposition was agitated and last week’s development in Parliament was an expression of that.
After Tuesday’s strike in Kerala against the hike in fuel prices, the Left Front will hold week-long demonstrations across West Bengal. Between March 3 and 9, the Left parties will conduct processions in various places.
Separately, trade unions across the political spectrum have decided to go on a mass agitation in different parts of the country in the form of road and rail blockades, and satyagraha to protest the rise in prices of essential commodities and now the hike in petroleum products.
All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta, MP, told The Hindu, that for the first time all trade unions including those affiliated to the Congress and the BJP would agitate on March 5. Lakhs of workers will offer arrest in metropolitan and industrial centres in the country.
Cut motion
The BJP said the party wants to use a cut motion during the vote on the Finance Bill in the second part of the budget session less as a tool to defeat the government and more to show up the fissures in the UPA as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Trinamool Congress have both demanded a rollback of the tax hike.
The party is hoping that Opposition unity would take place automatically and on the spur of the moment as it materialised when one party after another walked out during the budget presentation on February 26 in the Lok Sabha.
The BJP also plans to take Opposition unity on this issue to a new plane even as the Left parties decided to step up pressure on the government leading to its March 12 rally in the capital against rise in the prices of essential commodities.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the “arrogance of power” displayed in his assertion that there would be no rollback of the increased taxes on petroleum products announced in the budget.
On Wednesday the party would plan its floor strategy on this issue and other subjects at a meeting of National Democratic Alliance leaders.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said the party did not accept the argument offered by the government to justify the hike in petroleum products.
In the context of the rise in prices of food items, he said, the effect of the hike on petrol and diesel prices would be felt and cannot be minimised. “People will be put to great suffering if there is further rise in prices, of food items in particular,” he told The Hindu.
As for the Opposition strategy in Parliament, he said while the CPI(M) was trying to bring non-Congress secular parties together, on the issue of price rise, the entire Opposition was agitated and last week’s development in Parliament was an expression of that.
After Tuesday’s strike in Kerala against the hike in fuel prices, the Left Front will hold week-long demonstrations across West Bengal. Between March 3 and 9, the Left parties will conduct processions in various places.
Separately, trade unions across the political spectrum have decided to go on a mass agitation in different parts of the country in the form of road and rail blockades, and satyagraha to protest the rise in prices of essential commodities and now the hike in petroleum products.
All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta, MP, told The Hindu, that for the first time all trade unions including those affiliated to the Congress and the BJP would agitate on March 5. Lakhs of workers will offer arrest in metropolitan and industrial centres in the country.
Cut motion
The BJP said the party wants to use a cut motion during the vote on the Finance Bill in the second part of the budget session less as a tool to defeat the government and more to show up the fissures in the UPA as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Trinamool Congress have both demanded a rollback of the tax hike.
The party is hoping that Opposition unity would take place automatically and on the spur of the moment as it materialised when one party after another walked out during the budget presentation on February 26 in the Lok Sabha.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Suicides not desirable: CM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Tuesday asked Telangana activists and students not to resort to suicide to make the government bend to their demands.
"Suicides are not desirable. There is nothing one achieves by ending life. I earnestly appeal to students and youths not to resort to suicides,” Rosaiah told reporters here.
“I want to tell the students that their lives are very valuable and that they have a bright future ahead of them. So why take an extreme step like suicide!” the CM said.
Earlier, on Tuesday, a man tried to set himself ablaze near Parliament here but police prevented the tragedy with timely intervention.
While it was initially thought that he could be a pro-Telangana supporter, the exact cause of his attempt was not immediately known.
He has been identified as one Vijay Singh.
He attempted the immolation at Vijay Chowk.
On Saturday a youth died in Hyderabad after he set himself on fire before the Osmania University campus in Hyderabad as pro-Telangana agitation intensified.
"Suicides are not desirable. There is nothing one achieves by ending life. I earnestly appeal to students and youths not to resort to suicides,” Rosaiah told reporters here.
“I want to tell the students that their lives are very valuable and that they have a bright future ahead of them. So why take an extreme step like suicide!” the CM said.
Earlier, on Tuesday, a man tried to set himself ablaze near Parliament here but police prevented the tragedy with timely intervention.
While it was initially thought that he could be a pro-Telangana supporter, the exact cause of his attempt was not immediately known.
He has been identified as one Vijay Singh.
He attempted the immolation at Vijay Chowk.
On Saturday a youth died in Hyderabad after he set himself on fire before the Osmania University campus in Hyderabad as pro-Telangana agitation intensified.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Govt agrees to discuss price rise in Lok Sabha
The speaker would decide on a short duration discussion on price rise during the ongoing Budget Session in Lok Sabha
Apparently bowing to opposition pressure, Government on Monday agreed to a discussion in the Lok Sabha tomorrow on rising prices, an issue that has brought almost the entire Opposition and some key UPA allies together.
A meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha presided by Speaker Meira Kumar saw the government yielding to the demand in the backdrop of the Opposition threat to move an adjournment motion tomorrow if the government failed to hold a discussion on the issue.
“We have agreed for a short duration discussion and now it is for the Speaker to take a decision,” a minister said.
Noting that the government has agreed to break the convention to take up the price rise issue, he said normally the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address is taken up first.
The government’s move has come close on the heels of top opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, meeting the Speaker and telling her their intention to move an adjournment motion on the issue if the government did not discuss the issue tomorrow.
Besides Ms. Swaraj, those who met the Speaker were CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, Basudeb Acharia (CPI(M)), Lalu Prasad (RJD) and Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP).
The issue has received support from major UPA partners like Trinamool Congress and DMK, which have also sought a full-fledged debate on price rise.
The Rajya Sabha too is expected to discuss the issue tomorrow with an opposition leader saying that the House would not be allowed to run if the issue was not taken up.
Apparently bowing to opposition pressure, Government on Monday agreed to a discussion in the Lok Sabha tomorrow on rising prices, an issue that has brought almost the entire Opposition and some key UPA allies together.
A meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha presided by Speaker Meira Kumar saw the government yielding to the demand in the backdrop of the Opposition threat to move an adjournment motion tomorrow if the government failed to hold a discussion on the issue.
“We have agreed for a short duration discussion and now it is for the Speaker to take a decision,” a minister said.
Noting that the government has agreed to break the convention to take up the price rise issue, he said normally the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address is taken up first.
The government’s move has come close on the heels of top opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, meeting the Speaker and telling her their intention to move an adjournment motion on the issue if the government did not discuss the issue tomorrow.
Besides Ms. Swaraj, those who met the Speaker were CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, Basudeb Acharia (CPI(M)), Lalu Prasad (RJD) and Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP).
The issue has received support from major UPA partners like Trinamool Congress and DMK, which have also sought a full-fledged debate on price rise.
The Rajya Sabha too is expected to discuss the issue tomorrow with an opposition leader saying that the House would not be allowed to run if the issue was not taken up.
Opposition to focus on price rise, security
The budget session of Parliament, which begins on Monday, will see the Opposition attempting to corner the government on its handling of price rise and internal security.
The Left parties are opposed to the move to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has flagged talks with Pakistan talks as an issue of concern, which it wants to be discussed on Thursday, day of the talks itself. Both sides have also given indications of taking up the revised fertilizer policy, which they feel will be detrimental to farmers’ interests.
Monday meeting
On price rise, the government has indicated its willingness to concede the Opposition demand for discussing it on Tuesday, ahead of the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address. A final decision will be taken at a leaders’ meeting on Monday.
“We are prepared to discuss any issue. If they [the Opposition] are very particular on the price rise discussion, we may consider it,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.
Opposition warning
However, the Opposition has warned that if the government does not yield to its demand, it will move an adjournment motion. While the Left parties took the decision on Saturday, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) arrived at the same strategy at its meeting on Sunday evening.
Besides price rise, the Opposition will also try to corner the government on its handling of terrorism and violence following the Pune blast, the Telangana agitation and the continued killing of security personnel by Maoists.
On the BJP’s specific demand for a discussion on the day of India-Pakistan talks itself, the government maintained that all issues cannot get precedence over the motion of thanks.
The Opposition need not insist on separate discussions on all issues because the motion of thanks provided ample opportunity to air views on every subject of governance, sources in the government said.
In all, 36 Bills are listed for introduction. The Left parties will oppose the move to introduce the Nuclear Liability Bill, an essential precondition for entry of companies of the United States in the civil nuclear sector.
NDA seeks clarification
The NDA also wants the government to clarify whether the Bill was being piloted under the U.S.’ pressure. The government is most keen to have this passed as quickly as possible in order not to deny U.S. nuclear power companies an opportunity to enter India.
Divided into two halves, the first part of the budget session will see the President’s address, the railway and general budgets besides presentation of the Economic Survey and the Finance Commission’s report. It will be followed by a general discussion on both the budgets.
The government plans to make a suo motu statement on Australia and acquaint Parliament with the India-Pakistan talks.
The Left parties are opposed to the move to introduce the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has flagged talks with Pakistan talks as an issue of concern, which it wants to be discussed on Thursday, day of the talks itself. Both sides have also given indications of taking up the revised fertilizer policy, which they feel will be detrimental to farmers’ interests.
Monday meeting
On price rise, the government has indicated its willingness to concede the Opposition demand for discussing it on Tuesday, ahead of the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address. A final decision will be taken at a leaders’ meeting on Monday.
“We are prepared to discuss any issue. If they [the Opposition] are very particular on the price rise discussion, we may consider it,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.
Opposition warning
However, the Opposition has warned that if the government does not yield to its demand, it will move an adjournment motion. While the Left parties took the decision on Saturday, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) arrived at the same strategy at its meeting on Sunday evening.
Besides price rise, the Opposition will also try to corner the government on its handling of terrorism and violence following the Pune blast, the Telangana agitation and the continued killing of security personnel by Maoists.
On the BJP’s specific demand for a discussion on the day of India-Pakistan talks itself, the government maintained that all issues cannot get precedence over the motion of thanks.
The Opposition need not insist on separate discussions on all issues because the motion of thanks provided ample opportunity to air views on every subject of governance, sources in the government said.
In all, 36 Bills are listed for introduction. The Left parties will oppose the move to introduce the Nuclear Liability Bill, an essential precondition for entry of companies of the United States in the civil nuclear sector.
NDA seeks clarification
The NDA also wants the government to clarify whether the Bill was being piloted under the U.S.’ pressure. The government is most keen to have this passed as quickly as possible in order not to deny U.S. nuclear power companies an opportunity to enter India.
Divided into two halves, the first part of the budget session will see the President’s address, the railway and general budgets besides presentation of the Economic Survey and the Finance Commission’s report. It will be followed by a general discussion on both the budgets.
The government plans to make a suo motu statement on Australia and acquaint Parliament with the India-Pakistan talks.
