Date:05/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/05/stories/2007120561521700.htm

National

Government relents on Gorkha Bill

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: After a whip was issued to all Lok Sabha members from the ruling combine to ensure the passage of two Constitutional Amendments for the creation of an autonomous self-governing Gorkha Hill Council, Darjeeling, in West Bengal, the Government on Tuesday accepted the Opposition demand for referring them to a Parliamentary committee.

The shift in the Government’s stance was disclosed by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in the Lok Sabha when he was asked to move the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2007, and the Constitution (One Hundred and Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2007, for consideration and passage.

Stating that the Government had wanted the two Bills to be passed at the earliest as delay would lead to deterioration of the situation in a sensitive area, Mr. Patil said since there was a demand for referring them to a Standing Committee or a Joint Select Committee, “I have no objection.”

He made a plea for the report to be submitted within a month so that the two Bills can be taken up for passage at the earliest.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said: “I will not stand in the way” but did not specify if the Bills would go to a Standing Committee or a Joint Select Committee.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi sought to put it on record that the United Progressive Alliance and its supporting parties had the required numbers to get the Amendments passed.