Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

Economic bills: All party meet likely

Worried over the slow progress on economic reforms, the government may convene a meeting of the various political parties to evolve a consensus over the passage of a large number of pending economic legislations, crucial for giving the liberalisation process a boost.

This follows a suggestion from senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh's reply to a letter from Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, who had sought cooperation from the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha for passing pending economic bills numbering 23, sources said on Friday.

Jaswant Singh had written the letter on November 1, a fortnight ahead of the winter session of Parliament, which will begin on Nov 18. Manmohan Singh replied on Nov 5.

The pending legislations include Banking Companies (amendment) Bill to allow public sector banks to reduce government equity upto 33 per cent and Fiscal Responsibility and Development Bill, which lays down the roadmap to bring revenue deficit to zero and fiscal deficit to two per cent of GDP in four years.

Some of the other bills are Money Laundering Bill, Electricity Bill, Sick Industries and Companies Bill to scrap BIFR, Coal Mining Nationalisation (amendment) Bill and National Airports Authority (amendment) Bill.

ALSO READ:
Monetary & Credit Policy 2002-2003
More Money Headlines