PUNE, Dec 25: Congress strongman Sharad Pawar today hinted that the party may support the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) Bill, which has been referred to the joint select committee after it was passed in the Rajya Sabha.In an informal chat with media persons, Pawar said his party was not opposed to the Bill. He said the Congress had some reservations over the percentage of the Indian and foreign companies. These differences, however, could be sorted out, he said. He added that the party would support the Bill if it came up for discussion in the Lok Sabha during the budget session. Answering a question on the status of the Patents Bill, Pawar said the controversy over the Bill took place because of the Government. The clarifications from the President's office had made it clear that the Government had `cheated' not only the Congress but also the Rajya Sabha.Pawar said he had met Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha to stop the import of sugar since the country had adequate stocks for domestic consumption. He said Sinha had assured him of a decision within a week. He said it was strange that the Food Ministry was against the sugar import while the Finance Ministry was pressing for it.Pawar pooh-phooed reports that BJP-Sena Government was trying to induct him in the Dani Commission and Gundewar Commission reports, appointed to conduct the inquiries of killing of members of the Gowari community in Nagpur and desecration of Ambedkar's statue in Mumbai. Stating that the alliance government had lost its credibility, Pawar said it had not accepted the Srikrishna Commission report, which held Sena chief Bal Thackeray guilty.
