Debate on Babri report in Parliament next week

A file picture of Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal, addressing the media in Chandigarh. Photo: Akhilesh Kumar.

Parliament is expected to take up the much talked about discussion on the Liberhan Commission report next week, close on the heels of the 17th anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

While the date for the debate in the Rajya Sabha has been tentatively fixed as December 9, there are expectations that it would be taken up in the Lok Sabha on December 7 and 8.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, said the Hindi version of the Liberhan Commission report would be made available to members “as early as possible” to enable a discussion in Parliament.

Mr. Bansal gave the assurance in the House during Zero Hour after CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, raised the issue of postponement of the discussion, scheduled today.

SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, had complained to Speaker Meira Kumar, yesterday about non-availability of the Hindi version and expressed inability of his party to participate till it was made available, Mr. Bansal said.

He said the Speaker took the decision after consulting the government and the main opposition BJP and added that the government was ready to discuss the report even on the day it was tabled in Parliament.

As per the earlier schedule, the discussion in the Lok Sabha on the report was scheduled today.