8216;Some agreement8217; on stalled Bills

Hussain said financial legislation was on the agenda of the meeting,declined to elaborate on the specific points of agreement and disagreement. Sources said the insurance and pension Bills were discussed.

The insurance Bill,which seeks to raise the ceiling of FDI in insurance to 49 per cent from 26 per cent,has been hanging fire since 2008.

The standing committee on Finance,headed by Sinha,has recommended that the ceiling be kept at 26 per cent,and the BJP has been using the committees report to oppose the Bill.

While Hussain stressed that the BJP has not given any assurance to Chidambaram,the presence of Sinha at the meeting between the finance minister and the leaders of opposition was significant.

The executive committee of the BJP parliamentary party is scheduled to meet on Sunday to discuss strategy for the Monsoon Session beginning Monday. Swaraj,Jaitley and Sinha are likely to brief the meeting on their talks with Chidambaram.

The government is keen that Parliament passes the insurance and pension Bills in this session. Swaraj has asked for a discussion on the economic situation with special reference to depreciating rupee,and said that the dilution of FDI norms in retail,to which the BJP has been opposed,would also be raised.