BJP, allies shelve prices issue for now

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 16. The Constitution review and subsidy cuts leading to price hikes are likely to dominate the Budget session of Parliament which resumes tomorrow after a month-long break. While there is a consensus within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on the Constitution review issue, there are strongly divergent opinions on the prices issue.

At a pre-session NDA meeting this evening, several of the BJP's allies are reported to have registered their opposition to budgetary proposals that have led to a rise in prices. While both the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister had earlier ruled out a rollback, the contentious issue was shelved today on the plea that the Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, was out of the country. There would be another NDA meeting after Mr. Sinha returns, the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, told journalists.

However, the Opposition is not likely to let the Government off the hook both on the Constitution review and the prices issues. The Congress(I) is learnt to have decided to move an adjournment motion tomorrow on prices. The Left parties are also agitated about the cut in subsidies.

The deputy leader of the Congress(I) in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Madhavrao Scindia, said that his party would also move cut motions on demands for grants of various ministries.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, said that the Government would welcome a discussion in Parliament on the Constitution review move. The NDA is clearly preparing to take on the Congress(I) on the issue. It issued a statement that Ms. Sonia Gandhi should explain her party's past actions, including late prime minister Indira Gandhi's statement in Parliament that there was no such thing as a ``basic structure'' of the Constitution.

The passing of the Finance Bill 2000, the Railway Budget and the motion of thanks to the President's address are the other important matters on the agenda this session. It was decided at the NDA meeting that there would be a special debate on foreign policy. The Women's Reservation Bill is not expected to come up.

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