Lambasting the Government’s decision to disinvest HPCL and BPCL, the Shiv Sena today demanded that Attorney General (AG) Soli Sorabjee be invited to the Rajya Sabha and ‘‘allowed to speak his mind’’ on the contentious issue of putting the two profit-making oil PSUs on the block. During a discussion on the HPCL/BPCL disinvestment, Sena member Sanjay Nirupam said the Government had restricted the AG’s response on the issue by asking for a ‘‘limited opinion’’. The Government had earlier asked the AG’s opinion on whether the Cabinet can take a final decision for disinvesting BPCL/HPCL (created through an act of Parliament) without the backing of a parliamentary resolution. The AG gave the government a legal go-ahead. Quite in line with the Opposition parties, especially the Left, the Sena member also alleged that Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie was ‘‘not taking Parliamemt seriously’’. ‘‘Whatever we say, Arun Shourie will do what he wants!’’ he remarked, bringing a smile to Shourie’s face.Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee warned the Government that by privatising the oil sector it would create ‘‘chronic capitalism.’’ Finally some respite was provided by Independent member Ram Jethmalani who said the statutes of 1974 and 1976 stated that the Government was the sole owner of the assets and no condition can be imposed on the owner in case it wants to dispose it. No proxy voting right for armed forces yet The Government on Tuesday failed to push through the Bill to amend Representation of People’s Act, 1951, granting proxy voting rights to the armed forces personnel, with the Opposition demanding an all party meeting on the issue. Members of the Congress, Left parties, Telugu Desam Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) opposed the Bill, saying that in its present form, voting by proxy would dilute the secrecy of the electoral process. LS okays water cess hike The Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved by voice-vote legislation to enhance the water cess rates by nearly three times, even as it was informed that the average per capita fresh water availability in the country has gone down from 5,177 cubic metres in 1951 to about 1,820 cubic metres in 2001. The hike is aimed at providing more funds to state Pollution Control Boards for arresting the menace of water pollution in rivers and other water resources. It exempts industries consuming water below the specified quantities. (ENS)
