Sibal not allowed to move bill

Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha did not allow Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal to move an amendment bill on the Copyright Act, alleging a "conflict of interest".

Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha did not allow Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal to move an amendment bill on the Copyright Act, alleging a "conflict of interest".

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Even before Sibal could speak, members from the BJP, JD(U), AIADMK, BSP and TDP said the minister could not introduce it since his lawyer son represented a leading music company which stands to benefit from the bill.

"According to Rule 294 of Parliament's Ethics Committee, a member having direct or indirect interest in a matter cannot move a bill... He has conflict of interest," said JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari.