'Anti-rape laws to Lokpal, Parl session to be stormy'

Enactment of key legislations like strengthening of anti-rape laws, Land Acquisition Bill and Lokpal Bill is likely to be delayed with some Opposition parties objecting to the present form of the proposed measures.

Some parties were opposed to these measures in their present form and were pressing for amendments, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament beginning Thursday.

On the Criminal Laws Amendment Ordinance, promulgated by the government to strengthen anti-rape laws in the wake of the Delhi gangrape incident, some political parties insisted it should go through a standing or a select committee, he said.

Nath said there were also differences on the Lokpal Bill despite the measure going through a standing committee and a select committee with some political parties opposing it today and wanted it to go through some more scrutiny.

There were also differences over the Food Security Bill, the Land Acquisition, Relief and Rehabilitation Bill, the Women's Reservation Bill and the bill to provide reservation in promotion for SC/STs, he said.

"Political parties are not a homogeneous lot. Concerns of one party may be a red rag for other parties," Nath said urging all parties not to scuttle or obstruct Parliament.

To questions on whether government wanted some of these measures to go the standing committee after having been scrutinised by another committee, his refrain was government would have to go by the sense of the House.

"All parties have their views and this is the essence of their views... Normally, it does not go (again) to such committees. We do not think it necessary to go to Standing Committee.. We have to go by the sense of the House," he said.

Nath, an MP for over 30 years, gave an ambivalent answer to a specific question whether he was confident that Women's Reservation bill and Lokpal bill would be passed during the tenure of the 15th Lok Sabha. Parliamentary polls are still 15 months away.

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