Rajya Sabha committee seeks extension on submission of report on Insurance Bill

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government’s ambitious plan to get the Insurance Bill passed during the Winter Session of Parliament seems to have run into rough weather with the Rajya Sabha Select Committee looking into the legislation seeking an extension till December 12 to submit its report and the BJP’s estranged ally, the Shiv Sena, voicing opposition to the bill.

The select committee chairman and BJP MP Chandan Mitra has written to Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari seeking an extension till December 12 to submit the report on the bill citing the vacancy in the panel after two members were inducted into the Union Cabinet. Originally, the committee was to submit its report November 28.

“I have written a letter to the chairman (RS) seeking extension till December 12. I will be submitting the report before December 12. I have no difficulties,” Mr Mitra said. He was confident that he would be able to submit the report by December 12.

But what came as a surprise was the opposition from within as a sulking Shiv Sena opposed the bill in its current form, saying it lacked adequate safeguards. Playing hardball, Shiv Sena spokesman Arvind Sawant said that the party wants more safeguards to ensure that private companies also comply with the rules laid out in the law.