Communal Violence Bill: Union minister slams Modi; govt will seek consensus on all issues, says PM

New Delhi: On a day Narendra Modi dubbed the communal violence bill as a 'recipe for disaster', PM Manmohan Singh said that government will try to evolve a broadbased consensus on issues which are of 'great' legislative importance. 

Pitching for the safe passage of Communal Violence Bill in the current session of Parliament, Minorities Affairs Minister K. Rahman Khan on Thursday said it is not a divisive Bill and efforts are on to arrive at a consensus on the issue.

"Consultations are going on to bring the Bill in the session. Home Ministry is discussing it with other states seeking opinions," Khan said outside Parliament. 

Government is moving ahead with the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill that aims to protect minorities against targeted attacks. Asked about the opinions of other parties on the draft Bill, Khan said "There is no need for disagreement over the draft Bill. Our efforts are to have a consensus on it." 

On Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's opposition to the Bill, he said, "Perhaps he does not want any such law. Worst communal violence has taken place in Gujarat and he had failed to control it. It is the duty of the Centre to bring the law." Modi has dubbed the communal violence Bill as a 'recipe for disaster'.

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Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said government seeks the cooperation of all segments of Parliament to ensure smooth passage of the legislations. While BJP has voiced strong reservations against the communal violence bill, Samajwadi Party has threatened to disrupt Parliament if controversial bills like the one on Women's Reservation are taken up. 

"It will be our effort to evolve a broadbased consensus on all the matters which are of great legislative importance," Singh told reporters outside Parliament House. He was asked to comment on the BJP's prime ministerial candidate's opposition to the communal violence bill. 

The bill, which aims at protecting minorities from targeted attacks, is not on the government's agenda of legislative business to be transacted in the Winter session which began on Thursday. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, meanwhile, said government will try to evolve a consensus on the bill. 

"We will evolve a consensus on the bill," he told reporters just after the Prime Minister spoke on the subject. BJP has all along opposed the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill. It said it will oppose the legislation when it comes up for discussion in Parliament on the grounds that it would be a "threat to India's communal harmony."

Making a scathing attack on Modi for opposing the Bill, Janata Dal (United) leader K.C. Tyagi said "there are obvious reasons for Modi to oppose the Bill. The Government of Gujarat is solely responsible for massacre in Godhra. It is natural for Modi to oppose it."

Tyagi further said, "There should be a debate on it but we are not in favour of giving any concession to those who are responsible for riots. Our party wants the Bill should come this session and there should be steps to prevent riots."

SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, however, refused to comment on the anti-riot Bill saying, "there is no possibility of such bill to come this time. No controversial bill will come this time."

Pressing further to clarify his stand on the Bill, Yadav said, "It is a hypothetical question so I would not comment."

Describing the Babri mosque demolition as 'shameful' he said, his party would raise the issue tomorrow in the House and not allow it to function.

Winter Session of Parliament began on Thursday but was adjourned for the day after condoling the death of sitting members- Mohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha and Murarilal Singh in the Lok Sabha.

Asked whether the ambitious Women's Reservation Bill will be brought up in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said, "we will arrive at a consensus with regard to the legislations that should be brought in Parliament for discussion and decision making and we seek the cooperation of all segments of the House to ensure smooth passage of the legislations."

The constitutional amendment bill, which seeks to give 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, was passed in Rajya Sabha in March 2010 amid bedlam and is pending in the lower House amid opposition by parties, including SP, JD(U) and RJD.

The Prime Minister said since the Winter session, with 12 sittings, is of a 'very short duration, it is obligatory on all political parties represented in our Parliament to make their best possible efforts to get essential business transacted as quickly, as smoothly as possible'. 

Later, talking to reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said government was keen to enact the Lokpal Bill, but due procedure has to be followed.

"The Select Committee in Rajya Sabha has given its report. It will have to be first taken up in Rajya Sabha and because it is a Bill which is different from what was passed in Lok Sabha, it will have to come to Lok Sabha again. So, we are working on the process and I am discussing with political parties," Nath said.

When asked whether the Parliament session will be extended as demanded by the opposition, he said a decision in this regard would be taken on December 15 or December 16.

"It will depend on the businesses...The session can always be extended even on the last day. But, we want to see how the session proceeds and what is the quantum of business that is done and then we will take a view on this," Nath said.