
In view of the UP elections, the government today decided to reschedule the second half of the ongoing Budget session of Parliament by increasing the recess period.The House will now reassemble on April 26 instead of April 18 as scheduled earlier. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said they decided upon April 26 to accommodate the request of Leader of Opposition L K Advani8217;s. 8220;The number of days deducted from this session would be compensated in the next,8221; he said.
He said since government grants would have to be passed by May 14, all political parties had agreed to take up the financial bills and the demand of grants of various ministries once the House meets again.
In the first-half of the remaining days of the Budget session, the Parliament will complete discussions on the Budget 8212; General and Railways and pass the ordinances pending before it. The Opposition8217;s issues including the Quattrochhi debate, internal security and so on would be taken up only in the last three days of this session.
Describing the clash between the DMK-CPM as 8220;unfortunate8221;, Dasmunsi maintained that it was the government8217;s prerogative to introduce a bill. 8220;The differences on a bill can always be sorted out by the Standing Committee or by moving amendments,8221; he said, adding that 8220;there were a number of bills including the Pension bill and the Women8217;s Bill that were pending. Though he claimed to have been 8220;taken aback8221; by today8217;s development, he said the bill was listed for today8217;s business and no objections had been raised in the morning meeting of floor leaders.