N-liability bill in House today, Govt confident of its passage

The contentious Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill will be taken up for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha today. Govt sources are confident of resolving the deadlock with the Opposition and passing the bill. HT reports.

The contentious Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill will be taken up for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

US-has-won-over-Indians-with-nuclear-deal

Government sources are confident of resolving the deadlock with the Opposition and passing the bill. There was no official word if a compromise had been reached but the government is likely to drop the word ‘intent’ that reportedly dilutes suppliers’ liability in case of a nuclear mishap — a major bone of contention with the BJP.

With the Left in principle opposed to the bill, the government has to depend on either the BJP or parties like the Samajwadi Party, BSP and RJD to pass the bill, especially in Rajya Sabha where it doesn't have a majority. To get these parties on board, the government has said it is “open” to reasonable modifications.

A separate list of amendments will be included when Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan takes up the bill for passage on Wednesday.

On Monday, Chavan met Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley to explore a compromise. He followed it up on Tuesday by speaking with the BJP’s SS Ahluwalia and also reached out to the Left’s Sitaram Yechury and D Raja.