NDA opposes FM's foreign visit during Parliament

New Delhi, Apr 25: the NDA today expressed serious reservationsabout Finance Minister P Chidambaram's proposed foreign tour from May6-11 when the Parliament session will be on.

NDA leaders convyed this to government representatives during ameeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee ahead of theParliament session from tomorrow.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, BJP leader Vijay KumarMalhotra said the minister should adjust the dates of his visit keepingin 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 PrimeMinister, Parliament was given more importance than any other businessby the government.

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

Prof Malhotra said the NDA would raise several issues inParliament 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 thenew Rupee two coin. This was the first time that a religious symbol hadbeen 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 bereferred to the Ethic Committee. Parliament should also decide whichissues should be decided by it and which were under the purview of thecourts.

UNI