32 measures to come in budget session, Lokpal Bill unlikely

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) The much-talked about FoodSecurity Bill as also the Lokpal Bill are unlikely to betabled in the coming budget session of Parliament beginningMonday.

The bills do not figure among the 32 measures that wouldbe introduced in the three-month long session.

The measures to be tabled include the controversialCommunal Violence Bill, Press and Registration of Books andPublications Bill and the Land Acquisition (Amendment) bill.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal toldreporters that the Food Security and the Lokpal Bills have notcome before the Union Cabinet.

Asked as to how the Communal Violence Bill was beingbrought in view of the National Advisory Council headed bySonia Gandhi suggesting comprehensive measure, Bansal saidthat official amendments could be brought during the passage.

The Press and Registration of Books and Publications billhas been dubbed as ''draconian'' by the Indian NewspaperSociety, a body of newspaper owners, which alleged the measurehas been brought without consulting it.

Trinamool Congress, which is a key component of UPA,has reservations about the Land Acquisition (amendment) billas land acquisition is a ticklish issue in assembly poll-boundWest Bengal where TC leader Mamata Banerjee is being projectedas the next Chief Minister.

The bill seeks to amend the land acquisition Act whoseprovisions have sparked controversy. It is being brought alongwith the Rehabilitation and Resettlement bill.

Asked whether differences over the Land Acquisition Billhave been settled, Bansal said, "I understand it is so."

The Equal Opportunity bill, being brought as per therecommendations of the Sachar Committee which went into theplight of Muslims, had been a subject matter of controversywith a number of ministries objecting to its overridingmandate, after which government limited its scope only tominorities.

The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition)Amendment Bill and the Protection of Children from SexualOffences Bill are among other measures being introduced.

Women''s Reservation Bill, officially known as theConstitution (108 Amendment) bill, is among the 31 bills beingbrought for consideration and passage during the three-monthsession. The bill which has already been passed in theRajya Sabha, seeks to provide one-third reservation to womenin the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies.

Among the economic bills, the government proposes tointroduce the Constitution Amendment Bill to pave the way forintroduction of the long-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The other important economic legislations slated to betaken up by the government in Parliament include the Companies(Amendment) Bill 2009 and the Chartered Accountants(Amendment) Bill 2010.