Chidambaram cancels his foreign visit

New Delhi, May 4 (UNI) Bowing to the Opposition pressure, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has cancelled his visit to the United States to attend a World Bank meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said today.

The Opposition had taken exception to Mr Chidamabram's foreign tour during the Parliament session, particularly when the Financial business was to be discussed.

Talking to newspersons, Mr Dasmunsi said the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani had expressed strong reservation over the Finance Minister's scheduled foreign tour which was conveyed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Mr Chidambaram was then requested to postpone his visit which he finally accepted. Mr Chidamabram was to leave for the tour tomorrow.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister also scotched rumours that Parliament session would be adjourned before schedule after passing the Finance Bill. "I don't know from which quarters these rumours are being floated," he said.

He also gave out the parliamentary schedule for next week which includes a Short Duration discussion on Global warming scenario to be taken up in the Lok Sabha on May 8, discussion on the progress made in talks on Indo-Pak relations on May 9 which would be responded by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The Lok Sabha would discuss the contentious issue of the relationship between Executive, Judiciary and Legislature on May 14, to be followed by a debate on the price rise situation on May 15 which might be advanced to May 13, he said.

The Rajya Sabha would be discussing the working of the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare on May 8, Agriculture on May 9, Human Resource Development on 10 and Rural Development on May 11.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister clarified that he had gone to Mr Advani's residence last night at 2200 hours with his consent and had not thrusted himself at that hour.

The meeting was part of his duty to coordinate with the Opposition in regard to parliament agenda, he said.

UNI