NDA not to support reform bills
The Manmohan Singh government’s efforts to push the pending economic reform legislation has hit a new roadblock with the NDA ruling out support for the measures.“
By Urmi A Goswami, ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI : The Manmohan Singh government���s efforts to push the pending economic reform legislation has hit a roadblock with the NDA ruling out support for the measures.���
A government, which managed to survive the confidence vote through unwholesome methods has no legitimacy to act on these legislation,��� leader of Opposition L K Advani told ET.
Mr Advani also said the mood in the NDA meeting on Monday was against engaging the government in talks on the bills to reform pension, insurance and banking sectors.
The development just does not augur well for the government, which has become short hand for policy paralysis. The prime minister and the finance minister put the three legislation on the policy table for dispelling the impression of a lame-duck government.
But with the NDA deciding to play the spoiler, uncertainty has been introduced in the government���s plans. Since the Left, the BSP and the UNPA partners are expected to match the NDA���s opposition, the government cannot risk troubles in Parliament over the money bills. The three reform legislation are money bills which require simple majority for their passage.
Following the trust vote last week, finance minister P Chidambaram had said that the NDA was ���obliged��� to support certain key financial sector reforms, specifically in banking, insurance and pensions. For a while it seemed that the BJP was open to supporting the government in its effort to see through these big ticket reforms.
However, following discussions among the NDA constituents on Monday, the Opposition has clearly hardened its stance. ���There is no question of giving any support to this government. The finance minister has said that economic agenda of the government has remained unfinished on account of Left opposition.
If for four years there has been no economic reform, keeping it on hold will not matter now,��� NDA spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said.
The Opposition alliance has clarified that its decision to not lend support to the government in the area of economic reform is not a rethink of its own position on the subject. ���When a new government is voted into power in 2009, we will support these reform measures, irrespective of who is in power���, Ms Swaraj said.
Last year the BJP had informed the government that it was willing to back insurance and pension bills. However, given the UPA���s fear of offending the Left, the government did not pay heed to the BJP���s offer.
The finance minister has been trying to muster support for bills like the Pension Fund Regulatory and Finance Development Authority Bill, and Banking Finance Regulation (Amendment) Bill, both of which have been languishing since 2005.
Other items that the UPA would like to push through now include the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2005, the Forward Contracts Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2006. Support from the NDA would allow the government to introduce the Insurance Bill in Parliament.
A government, which managed to survive the confidence vote through unwholesome methods has no legitimacy to act on these legislation,��� leader of Opposition L K Advani told ET.
Mr Advani also said the mood in the NDA meeting on Monday was against engaging the government in talks on the bills to reform pension, insurance and banking sectors.
The development just does not augur well for the government, which has become short hand for policy paralysis. The prime minister and the finance minister put the three legislation on the policy table for dispelling the impression of a lame-duck government.
But with the NDA deciding to play the spoiler, uncertainty has been introduced in the government���s plans. Since the Left, the BSP and the UNPA partners are expected to match the NDA���s opposition, the government cannot risk troubles in Parliament over the money bills. The three reform legislation are money bills which require simple majority for their passage.
Following the trust vote last week, finance minister P Chidambaram had said that the NDA was ���obliged��� to support certain key financial sector reforms, specifically in banking, insurance and pensions. For a while it seemed that the BJP was open to supporting the government in its effort to see through these big ticket reforms.
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However, following discussions among the NDA constituents on Monday, the Opposition has clearly hardened its stance. ���There is no question of giving any support to this government. The finance minister has said that economic agenda of the government has remained unfinished on account of Left opposition.
If for four years there has been no economic reform, keeping it on hold will not matter now,��� NDA spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said.
The Opposition alliance has clarified that its decision to not lend support to the government in the area of economic reform is not a rethink of its own position on the subject. ���When a new government is voted into power in 2009, we will support these reform measures, irrespective of who is in power���, Ms Swaraj said.
Last year the BJP had informed the government that it was willing to back insurance and pension bills. However, given the UPA���s fear of offending the Left, the government did not pay heed to the BJP���s offer.
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The finance minister has been trying to muster support for bills like the Pension Fund Regulatory and Finance Development Authority Bill, and Banking Finance Regulation (Amendment) Bill, both of which have been languishing since 2005.
Other items that the UPA would like to push through now include the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2005, the Forward Contracts Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2006. Support from the NDA would allow the government to introduce the Insurance Bill in Parliament.
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