Advani demands explanation on decision.
Amid stiff opposition from the political parties, particularly the Left, the Government on Monday decided against introducing in the Lok Sabha the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill, 2010 that provides for compensation in the event of a nuclear accident.
A key step in the operationalisation of the India-U.S. nuclear deal, the Bill was listed for introduction in the House, but just as the Bill was about to be tabled, Speaker Meira Kumar said she had received a request from the Government that “it did not intend to introduce the Bill today [Monday].”
At least four members from the Opposition had given notice to the Speaker in the morning about their intention to oppose the Bill at the introduction stage as it violated Article 21 of the Constitution and several Supreme Court rulings. Under Rule 72 of the Rule of Procedures of the Lok Sabha, any Government motion that is opposed at the time of introduction has to be put to vote. Since the Government lacked the numbers in the House, it decided to withdraw the Bill instead.
The notice to oppose the Bill had been given by Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha or the Bharatiya Janata Party, Basudeb Acharia of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Gurudas Dasgupta of the CPI.
Protesting strongly against the announcement, working chairman of the National Democratic Alliance L.K. Advani said the Government should tell the House why the Bill was deferred suddenly.
“The Government should tell whether it has a rethink on it or whether they are not introducing because of opposition to the Bill,” he said, pointing out that the proposed legislation was an important part of the day's agenda.
Sushma’s demand
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj also demanded that a motion had to be moved for withdrawal of the Bill from the agenda as the matter was listed in the day's business. “The House does not run by the intention of the Government but by rules of the House,” she said.
The Speaker, however, rejected the demand saying such a motion could not be moved as the Bill had not been introduced.
Responding to the opposition, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the Government decision could not be challenged in the House.
Key requirement
Enactment of the liability law is one of the three key requirements because of which the nuclear deal with the U.S., concluded in September 2008, could not be operationalised so far.
The Bill provides for establishment of a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission under which a claims commissioner will be appointed.
Keywords: Nuclear liability Bill, Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar, BJP, IAEA, Left parties
Yes, the opposition is doing great job. I do not think it's right to privatize the profit and socialize the risk. India has already signed nuclear deals with Russia and France so why bother about American companies. If they want the pie they should drop the demand of having a cap on liabilities.
The liability amount is so minuscule that it is even less than the salary and bonus drawn by the CEOs of American companies.
The Indian Govt. is risking sovereignty, taxpayers' hard earned money and even Indians' life just for its reputation. It's a conspiracy by the Govt. It has forgotten to secure the interests and safety of Indians. Mindlessly running behind atomic energy.
This is the first step. The Opposition should not allow this Bill in this term of the Parliament. That is possible only if the ruling bloc can be kept divided. The Congress plan to split other parties with the Women's Reservation Bill has now wrecked its own capacity to act. Cheers!
The nation thanks the opposition MPs for stopping this anti-people and anti-national bill. The government should learn to put the interests of the Indian citizens ahead of their corporate masters' business concerns and profits. Otherwise, this kind of embarassment (deferring the bill at the last minute) will and should continue. Shame on you, UPA government!
Though the Government went all the way to push the nuclear deal through, they failed to cover up for this eventuality. Good to know the opposition parties are up to some good.
As reported in the newspapers the bill harmful to the country and can't be supported. It appears to be a surrender to the US businesses, against Indian national interests. Manmohan Singh has not done any thing to clear the doubts. It is silent, which supports the concerns of the Opposition. Hence the opposition is justified. However the Govt. should first clear the doubts.
When thiis country has vast potential to develop energy from conventional and nonconventional sources, resorting to the nuclear power through the US vendors at our own peril is an abject surrender of the State; it is condemnable. Thanks to The Hindu for higlighting the issue, please keep the flame of public opinion alive.
Its a national shame to introduce a bill with such low compensation cap. Can the government show any country having such low compensation cap?
The US Ambassodor urged parliament on TV today to pass the Nuclear Liability Bill adding that it is necessary for the nuclear deal to be operational. Now the government cannot deny US pressure in the matter. The Indian media which supported the government to the hilt on the nuclear deal has mercifully kept away from such blind support in the matter of the liability bill. That and the opposition both from the BJP and the Left have given the government cold feet. It remains to be seen where it will go from here. The government which in reality is a minority government with outside support ought to realise that even a government with a large majority in parliament has to build national consensus on vital issues.The Congress-led government however thinks that it knows best what is good for the country. If the opposition unites, it can bring the government down to earth.
It is really a good thing for India that opposition is doing its work instead of interrupting.
it is great victory for opposition parties
This apparently is due to the hidden agenda behind the India -US Nuclear Agreement.Since a number of Nuclear plants in the US have failed and caused damage,the US wants to play safe. We can not allow our citizens to be limited by such laws and we need not buy nuclear plants from USA if they try to safeguard their liability when their badly designed plants fail.
Govt. should patiently negoiate with USA pointing out how it infringes our sovereignty and then take opposition into confidence and not bulldoze this measure.
Prime Minister of India is liable to the people of India. He must give a public speech regarding the bill and clear all the points.
This is great news that the opposition is doing something about this senseless bill. I do hope that this bill gets scrapped as it will only do harm to our nation and our people.
Please Email the Editor