NDA opposes Chidambaram's foreign visit during Parl. session

New Delhi, Apr 25 (UNI) the NDA today expressed serious reservations about Finance Minister P Chidambaram's proposed foreign tour from May 6-11 when the Parliament session will be on.

NDA leaders convyed this to government representatives during a meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee ahead of the Parliament session from tomorrow.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the minister should adjust the dates of his visit keeping in mind the fact that the Parliament session would be on.

Because of Mr Chidambaram's proposed visit, Parliament would have to rush through all Finance Bills by May 3, he added.

He said right from the time when Pt Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister, Parliament was given more importance than any other business by the government.

Prof Malhotra said the government's view at the meeting was that Mr Chidambaram's visit was planned much before adjustments were made in the dates of the Parliament session in view of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The government was still trying if the dates of the visit could be changed.

Prof Malhotra said the NDA would raise several issues in Parliament during the session, including price rise, SEZs controversy, FDI in retail and Ottavio Quattrocchi.

He said the NDA had also objected to the sign of 'cross' over the new Rupee two coin. This was the first time that a religious symbol had been depicted over a coin, he added.

There was also a discussion at the meeting on suspended BJP MP Babubhai Katara, allegedly involved in human trafficking.

The NDA took the stand that all unethical issues should be referred to the Ethic Committee. Parliament should also decide which issues should be decided by it and which were under the purview of the courts.

UNI