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Debate likely on August 23: Dasmunsi

Special Correspondent

BJP had requested that discussion be taken up on August 23
Another BAC meet likely early next week to fix schedule

NEW DELHI: A debate in Parliament on the nuclear deal with the United States is likely on August 23, subject to agreement by party leaders and Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said here on Friday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which had accepted the Speaker’s ruling — that the debate be held under Rule 193 as a short duration discussion with no voting — had requested that the discussion be taken up on August 23. It seems this may suit the Government also, as on the previous two days Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee are expected to be busy with the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Next task

The Government has won the first round: it has said bilateral agreements cannot be voted upon by Parliament. Its next task will be to respond to the doubts and apprehensions of Opposition members as well as its supporting parties to their satisfaction. Mr. Dasmunsi said the Prime Minister would respond to every question raised by them.

At the last meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, it was tentatively decided that the debate could start on August 20 — that was reflected in the Speaker’s ruling on Friday. However, another meeting was expected to take place early next week to fix the schedule.

Moreover, a discussion on floods was yet to be concluded. That could take up time till Monday, Mr. Dasmunsi said.

The Minister said he would speak to leaders of various parties and presiding officers of both Houses to work out the dates and time for the discussion.

Bardhan’s comment

Asked about the comment of Communist Party of India leader A.B. Bardhan that the “honeymoon [between the Congress and the Left] is over,” he said: “All married couples know that the honeymoon lasts only a few days or weeks… I had a three-day honeymoon when I got married. There are always domestic problems. They can be sorted out.”

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