PM seeks consensus, opposition refuses

All hopes of having a smooth run during the winter session of Parliament, which began on Thursday, were dashed as opposition parties refused PM Manmohan Singh’s appeal to have a consensus on the anti-communal violence bill.  Singh said: ‘It will be our effort to evolve a broad based consensus on anti-communal violence, women’s reservation and other important bills.’ His statement came after Gujarat CM Narendra Modi said: ‘The timing of the communal violence bill is suspicious. Political considerations and vote-bank politics rather than genuine concerns are guiding.’ ‘Why is the government trying to bring this bill when the Lok Sabha elections are around the corner and when many state governments and several major parties are also against it? What is the hurry?’ said TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay. ‘If in spite of this the government brings the Bill in this session we will not only strongly oppose it but also vote against it,’ he said.