Hurdles in Insurance Bill cleared as Rajya Sabha logjam ends

New Delhi: A Parliamentary select committee on Monday finalised its draft report after the Congress came around and put its weight behind the bill n Parliamentary Committee clearing way for the passage of Insurance bill that seeks to increase FDI in the sector to 49 per cent during the Winter Session.

The report would be tabled before Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, two days before the term of the committee ends.

The development comes on a day when the week-long logjam in the Upper House over Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s controversial remarks ended as the government and the Opposition agreed to a statement read by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari highlighting the importance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks disapproving of any derogatory remarks by ministers and MPs.

However, ahead of the statement, the Opposition insisted on a House resolution, which the government did not agree to. This led to three adjournments till 12 noon. In the Lok Sabha too, the usual business could be transacted smoothly.

Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu sought the Opposition’s cooperation in clearing the “heavy agenda” before Parliament in the coming days.

The breakthrough was reached at a meeting called by Mr Ansari attended, by  Venkaiah Naidu Arun Jaitley from the government side and the Congress, SP, Trinamool , JD(U), BSP, CPI, CPI(M), DMK and the NCP.