Sonia meets Sushma, says don’t kill bill
8 May 2013 7:46 AM IST
With Parliament being stalled repeatedly and conduct of crucial business like passage of Food Security Bill and Land Acquisition Bill looking bleak, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday reached out to Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj for her support on these bills. Soon after Lok Sabha was adjourned, Swaraj was walking towards the Central Hall with BJP Parliamentary Party chief LK Advani and other MPs when Gandhi approached her and walked with Swaraj for some distance.
It is learnt that agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has been deputed with the task of negotiating with the Opposition on this issue. The agriculture minister met BJP leader Ananth Kumar. Pawar spoke about calling an all-party meet to sort the issue. Sources say that the BJP leader made it clear that his party will attend an all-party meet only if it is called by the Prime Minister.
In the past, the BJP had made it clear that they would boycott all meetings called by either the Speaker of the House or the Parliamentary Affairs minister. Sources also said that though the BJP can attend the all party meet called by the Prime Minister, they are unlikely to relent from their demand of resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
BJP supports these bills in principle and would give its nod if certain amendments are incorporated.
Earlier, the Congress had accused the BJP of stopping these bills from being passed and said it could affect the socio-economic welfare of the people of the country. ‘This is a common bill. If you are a responsible Opposition, then come forward and let the bill be passed.
We can always discuss and sort out our political differences later. How can we neglect public welfare for our politics,’ said Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit. The government is keen to pass the Food Security Bill before the Budget session ends on 10 May. The Left also made its stand clear and said that said that the Food Security Bill should be passed only after proper debate.
It is learnt that agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has been deputed with the task of negotiating with the Opposition on this issue. The agriculture minister met BJP leader Ananth Kumar. Pawar spoke about calling an all-party meet to sort the issue. Sources say that the BJP leader made it clear that his party will attend an all-party meet only if it is called by the Prime Minister.
In the past, the BJP had made it clear that they would boycott all meetings called by either the Speaker of the House or the Parliamentary Affairs minister. Sources also said that though the BJP can attend the all party meet called by the Prime Minister, they are unlikely to relent from their demand of resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.
BJP supports these bills in principle and would give its nod if certain amendments are incorporated.
Earlier, the Congress had accused the BJP of stopping these bills from being passed and said it could affect the socio-economic welfare of the people of the country. ‘This is a common bill. If you are a responsible Opposition, then come forward and let the bill be passed.
We can always discuss and sort out our political differences later. How can we neglect public welfare for our politics,’ said Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit. The government is keen to pass the Food Security Bill before the Budget session ends on 10 May. The Left also made its stand clear and said that said that the Food Security Bill should be passed only after proper debate.
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