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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, NOV 18: Sustained campaign by the Rashtriya Swayamsevek Sangh (RSS) and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) hawks like Govindacharya against economic liberalisation notwithstanding, the Government is expected to push through two dozen bills facilitating India’s transition into free-trade era, in Winter session of Parliament startying on Monday.
Legislations on reducing Government holding in nationalised banks, Freedom of Information, Fiscal Responsibility, Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill and Electricity Bill accorded top priority by the Government are basically aimed to prepare the country for free-trade era, sources in the Government said.
The FTA Bill for example, contains provisions to protect domestic industry due to sudden spurt in imports after removal of quantitative restrictions (QRs) from April 1, 2000. Similarly, Electricity Bill would pave the way for privatisation of state electricity boards, their restructuring, entering into joint ventures and inviting private investment.
The Government plans to set up four National Law Universities at Chennai, Calcutta, Mumbai and Delhi to prepare fresh lawyers adept at combating challenge of opening of service sector as per WTO guidelines. The Centre would introduce National Law Universities Bill, 2000 to regulate them.
Fiscal Responsibility Bill intends to put a cap on the limits of loan the Centre wanted to mobilise from domestic and foreign sources every year and Aircraft (exemption on petroleum) Bill aims to to exempt designated airlines with which India has signed Air services agreement, from local duties and taxes the fuel and lubricants on a reciprocal basis to have a uniform policy, soures said.
Government has listed 26 pending and 22 new bills in the business expected to be taken up during the 25-day session, including the banking companies Bill and Indian Divorce (Amendment) Bill which were cleared by the Union cabinet on Friday. While there are 13 bills pending in Lok sabha, ten are pending in Rajya sabha.
The Constitution (eighty-fifth amendment) Bill, 1999, to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies was introduced in Lok Sabha in December last year but could not be passed due to lack of consensus among political parties on the issue.
The Freedom of Information Bill, 2000, seeking to give citizens right to information under control of public authorities to promote transparency and accountability in administration, was introduced in Lok Sabha this July but referred to the standing committee on home affairs following Opposition demand.
