Insurance bill introduced in RS amidst scuffle
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New Delhi, Dec 22, 2008: Amid strong attempts by the Left to block the insurance bill, the government today introduced the draft legislation in the Rajya Sabha which witnessed CPI(M) members rushing menacingly towards the Minister of State for Finance to snatch the paper from him. As P K Bansal rose to introduce the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008,CPI(M) member T K Rangarajan dashed towards him to snatch the copy of the bill from him.
An agitated External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was seen pushing the CPI(M) member and protecting his ministerial colleague from the opposition onslaught.
Another Minister Meira Kumar rushed to the front bench to provide a shield to Bansal, who managed to introduce the bill aimed at increasing the FDI limit in the insurance sector.
In the melee, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan adjourned the House till 1400 hours.
The CPI(M) members, helped by new-found friends AIADMK and TDP, appeared determined to thwart the introduction of the bill by gathering in the well even before the House met at noon after an adjournment during the Question Hour on the A R Antulay issue.
The UPA government kept the insurance reforms in abeyance till the Left parties withdrew support in July this year.
The bill proposes to raise foreign equity in Indian insurance companies from 26 percent to 49 percent. It also seeks to allow nationalised general insurance firms to raise money from the market.
The Left parties' strong objection to the bill became clear right from the beginning of the Question Hour when the CPI(M) members led by Brinda Karat rushed into the well and CPI members kept standing on their seats.
The CPI(M) members shouted slogans against the Bill leading to noisy scenes.
Khan pleaded with them to go back to their seats and allow the laying of papers listed against the names of Ministers.
However, the Left members were unrelenting and at one stage A Vijayraghavan (CPI-M) tore the agenda paper in front of the podium.
As the Chair asked Bansal to introduce the bill, the protest from the Left members became louder and T K Rangarajan rushed to the minister to snatch the papers.
Responding quickly to the situation, the External Affairs Minister pushed Rangarajan away while Meira Kumar provided a shield to allow Bansal to introduce the bill. Some other senior ministers too came to the rescue of Bansal.
All through the high drama, main opposition BJP, which is not opposed to the reforms in the insurance sector, stayed away from the Left parties' protests.
An agitated External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was seen pushing the CPI(M) member and protecting his ministerial colleague from the opposition onslaught.
Another Minister Meira Kumar rushed to the front bench to provide a shield to Bansal, who managed to introduce the bill aimed at increasing the FDI limit in the insurance sector.
In the melee, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan adjourned the House till 1400 hours.
The CPI(M) members, helped by new-found friends AIADMK and TDP, appeared determined to thwart the introduction of the bill by gathering in the well even before the House met at noon after an adjournment during the Question Hour on the A R Antulay issue.
The UPA government kept the insurance reforms in abeyance till the Left parties withdrew support in July this year.
The bill proposes to raise foreign equity in Indian insurance companies from 26 percent to 49 percent. It also seeks to allow nationalised general insurance firms to raise money from the market.
The Left parties' strong objection to the bill became clear right from the beginning of the Question Hour when the CPI(M) members led by Brinda Karat rushed into the well and CPI members kept standing on their seats.
The CPI(M) members shouted slogans against the Bill leading to noisy scenes.
Khan pleaded with them to go back to their seats and allow the laying of papers listed against the names of Ministers.
However, the Left members were unrelenting and at one stage A Vijayraghavan (CPI-M) tore the agenda paper in front of the podium.
As the Chair asked Bansal to introduce the bill, the protest from the Left members became louder and T K Rangarajan rushed to the minister to snatch the papers.
Responding quickly to the situation, the External Affairs Minister pushed Rangarajan away while Meira Kumar provided a shield to allow Bansal to introduce the bill. Some other senior ministers too came to the rescue of Bansal.
All through the high drama, main opposition BJP, which is not opposed to the reforms in the insurance sector, stayed away from the Left parties' protests.
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