Shinde’s remark may stall Lokpal Bill
25 Jan 2013 7:36 AM IST
With the BJP refusing to budge from its demand for an apology from Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and threatening to disrupt Parliament in the absence of the same, there is immense pressure on the government’s floor managers as several important bills have to be passed during the upcoming Budget session. ‘Today we are protesting on the streets, but if the government doesn’t remove Shinde and express regret, we will take the battle to both houses of Parliament,’ said BJP president Rajnath Singh on Thursday.
The bills lined for tabling include the Land Acquisition Bill, the Food Security Bill, the Lokpal and the Lokayukta Bill. According to sources, rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday informally tried to broach the matter with newly-elected BJP president Rajnath Singh but got a snub in return. It is learnt that Minister of Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh, who is piloting the land acquisition bill, on learning of the BJP move, immediately called up Singh to insure if the booklet on frequently-asked-questions on land bill has reached him. The BJP leader is the lead speaker from the Opposition benches on the said bill. Singh is reported to have disconnected the line after replying to minister’s query with a curt ‘yes’.
Apart from these bills, the government also has to push through amendments in the anti-women crime laws as per the recommendations given by Justice JS Verma committee. ‘We have a commitment to the nation on amending laws as per the recommendations. It would be very unfortunate if the BJP disagrees,’ said a Congress leader.
Meanwhile, addressing a protest rally in New Delhi over the Hindu terror remarks by Shinde, leader of opposition, Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, demanded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minster Manmohan Singh should apologise over the remarks made by the home minister. ‘Politics can be practised to the extent that it benefits the Congress or even harms the BJP but it should not be taken to a level where national interest is affected,’ said Swaraj.
Even BSP chief Mayawati was not left behind in attacking the home minister. ‘Shinde holds an important position in the government and the issue relates to his department. He should have made the statement based on the facts available to him, but he acted in haste which is not correct,’ said Mayawati. The BSP chief added that the statement hurts the sentiments of Hindus.
The bills lined for tabling include the Land Acquisition Bill, the Food Security Bill, the Lokpal and the Lokayukta Bill. According to sources, rural development minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday informally tried to broach the matter with newly-elected BJP president Rajnath Singh but got a snub in return. It is learnt that Minister of Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh, who is piloting the land acquisition bill, on learning of the BJP move, immediately called up Singh to insure if the booklet on frequently-asked-questions on land bill has reached him. The BJP leader is the lead speaker from the Opposition benches on the said bill. Singh is reported to have disconnected the line after replying to minister’s query with a curt ‘yes’.
Apart from these bills, the government also has to push through amendments in the anti-women crime laws as per the recommendations given by Justice JS Verma committee. ‘We have a commitment to the nation on amending laws as per the recommendations. It would be very unfortunate if the BJP disagrees,’ said a Congress leader.
Meanwhile, addressing a protest rally in New Delhi over the Hindu terror remarks by Shinde, leader of opposition, Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, demanded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minster Manmohan Singh should apologise over the remarks made by the home minister. ‘Politics can be practised to the extent that it benefits the Congress or even harms the BJP but it should not be taken to a level where national interest is affected,’ said Swaraj.
Even BSP chief Mayawati was not left behind in attacking the home minister. ‘Shinde holds an important position in the government and the issue relates to his department. He should have made the statement based on the facts available to him, but he acted in haste which is not correct,’ said Mayawati. The BSP chief added that the statement hurts the sentiments of Hindus.
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