BJP to oppose Nuclear Liability Bill: Sushma Swaraj

Even as the Centre expressed its readiness to look into "genuine" issues, which the opposition might raise over the proposed legislation, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj today said the BJP would oppose the Nuclear Liability Bill.

Even as the Centre expressed its readiness to look into "genuine" issues, which the opposition might raise over the proposed legislation, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj today said the BJP would oppose the Nuclear Liability Bill.

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"The BJP would oppose the Bill as the provision of compensation made in the legislation was quite insufficient," Swaraj, who was in Ambala to attend a civic reception, held in her honour, told reporters.

Her statement comes after Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who is in-charge of Department of Atomic Energy, said in Delhi that the government was ready to "look into" any genuine and sincere issues the opposition may raise over the Bill.

The BJP and the Left parties had forced the government to decide against introduction of the Bill in Lok Sabha on March 15.

The Opposition parties are objecting to the compensation cap of Rs 500 crore on the operator envisaged in the Bill.

BJP also apprehends that through the legislation, the government is trying to enable foreign private companies to enter India's nuclear market.

Replying to a question, she said Congress should not give credit to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for this (Women's Reservation Bill), as they did not have the numbers neither in the Lok Sabha nor in Rajya Sabha to get the Bill cleared.

Asserting that BJP was in favour of the Women's Reservation Bill, she hoped that RJD and SP might also change their stand after some amendments in the legislation.

Blaming the Centre for price rise, the BJP leader said the entire opposition was united on the issue as it was hitting the common man hard.