Doubtful of passage of key bills: PC

Sharing his assessment of the state of affairs in Parliament, finance minister P. Chidambram on Wednesday expressed his doubts whether any key legislation, except for the vote-on-account, would see the light of the day in the onging session, which began on Wednesday.

Addressing students of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) at its business conclave, the finance minister said, “If Parliament does not meet to pass laws, and beginning today you will see Parliament will meet, but I doubt whether it will pass any law.” He then went on to add: “We have to go through the ritual of attending Parliament everyday and come back empty handed.”
Later talking to reporters, Dr Chidambram, however, said, the Finance Bill, Vote-on-Account and Appropriation Bill will be passed. “…But if it is passed without debate or discussion, I won’t be happy. I want it to pass with discussion and debate,” he said.
The government has listed several bills, which it seeks to pass during the session ending February 21. Besides the interim budget, the government wants to pass the Telangana Bill and a few anti-corruption legislations.
Meanwhile, responding to a query on cut in prices of CNG and PNG ahead of the general elections, Dr Chidambaram said the government has not given any sops, but has only rationalised some prices.
“Government has not given any sops. Just because you guys call it a sop, it does not become a sop. Government has rationalised some prices, that is a decision taken by oil market companies,” he added.
Government has decided to cut CNG prices by about Rs 15 per kg and cooking gas piped to kitchens by about Rs 5 per cubic meter.
The Finance Miniser also assured that the red line for fiscal deficit drawn by him 18 months ago would not be breached. “... Have no doubt in your mind... The fiscal deficit will be contained at 4.8 per or below (of the GDP in 2013-14),” he said.
Stressing that India has the potential to grow at 8-9 per cent for next 20-30 years owing to the demographic dividend, Mr Chidambaram assured that when he demits office, he will leave a more stable economy than what it was two years ago.