Chidambaram rules out early polls, says more reforms in pipeline - Times of India

NEW DELHI: Finance minister P Chidambaram reached out to the main opposition BJP and other political parties seeking their support to get crucial legislations approved in the ongoing budget session in an effort aimed at shielding the reform process from any parliamentary logjam. The UPA is keen to get the insurance, food security and land acquisition legislations approved by Parliament to sustain the reform momentum and reverse the slowdown in the economy. The protests in Parliament over the "Coalgate" scam and other issues have threatened to upset the government's plan to get these vital legislations approved. BJP has dragged its feet on support for the Insurance Bill which seeks to raise the foreign investment cap in the sector to 49% from 26%. The Left parties have also voiced their concern over the insurance bill. "We have listed the things we intend to do. We want the land Bill passed; insurance Bill passed with FDI at 49% and I sincerely seek cooperation of principal opposition party and other political parties," Chidambaram said in his speech at the India summit of The Economist. "We want the regulator for coal sector, road sector in place; we want rail tariff authority in place to fix tariff in railway sector," the minister said. The finance minister again ruled out early elections and said the government would take steps to open up the economy. "People talk about elections. They say have you not heard the bugle of the elections? I say I must be ton e deaf I have not heard it. It is 13 months away," the finance minister said reiterating that the government will complete its full term. "There is much more to be done. The remaining bills have to be passed. There are many more executive actions that have to be taken... Some of these are executive actions which we will take in the next two-four months. "We will continue to take small significant steps. We will also take forward some big ideas. India's economy will continue to reform," Chidambaram said. The finance minister sought the cooperation of the main opposition party and other groups saying there was need to look at economic issues in a bipartisan manner. "Some of these are legislative actions which require the support of the principal opposition party and other political parties," the finance minister sai d. "We are trying and we will be very happy if the bill can be passed in this session," Chidambaram said referring to the land acquisition Bill. "We thought that we had reached a consensus with the principal opposition party and other political parties two or three days ago. We thought that the Bill could be passed this week. Alas, there has been a setback not because of the content of the Bill but because of other political developments," the FM added. via Business - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEv2zbfgGauolUC3RQlWAYfxlEs_Q&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Chidambaram-rules-out-early-polls-says-more-reforms-in-pipeline/articleshow/19718926.cms

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 2910127