'Suo motu statement on 123 accord by UPA'

New Delhi, Aug 7: The UPA goverment may decide on making a suo motu statement on the 123 agreement, but any detailed discussion could be held only after August 20 as External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would return from abroad only on August 17, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said today.

Briefing reporters on the eve of the monsoon session of Parliament beginning August 10, Mr Dasmunsi said the government has not yet received a notice under rule 184 for discussion on the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement during the session which would conclude on September 14, but the Business Advisory Council would decide on the issue once the notice was received.

''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already clarified that there would be no change in the agreement and no changes have taken place.

Still, if political parties demanded, the Speaker would decide on the issue and then we would talk to the Prime Minister to take a final decision,'' he added.

Regarding the controversial Broadcasting Bill, the Minister said he would make sincere efforts to introduce the bill during the monsoon session itself. He said an initial discussion with stakeholders have already taken place and during the first week of the Parliament session he would again consult them. If there was not much problem, it would be placed before the Union cabinet and introduced in Parliament after its approval.

Women's Reservation Bill is not likely to come up even during the session.

However, many important bills like the State Bank of India (Amendment) Bill, 2007 which would replace an ordinance would be introduced, considered and passed. Similarly, The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provision) Bill, 2007 would also be passed to replace another ordinance. The Supplementary general budget and the railway budget would be passed by Parliament.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2007 and The Cigerettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill, 2007 are also likely to be passed by Parliament during the session.

The Clinical Establishment (Registeration and Regulation) Bill, 2007 would also be introduced during the session along with the Drugs and Cosmetics (Second Amendment) Bill, 2007 and the Paramedical and Physiotherapy Councils Bill, 2007. The bill pertaining to reservation in private unaided educational institutions would also be introduced during the session. The Private Detective Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2007 and the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2007 and the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Bill, 2007 would also be among the 25 new bills to be introduced during the session.

Twenty-five bills, which had already been introduced in Parliament, would also come up for consideration and passing while three bills, including the Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Bill, 1995, will be withdrawn.

Regarding the possibility of holding Special Session on August 14 night to commemorate the 60th year of Independence, Mr Dasmunsi said that the final decision would be taken up by the Speaker as there were two opinions including one which says that since such sessions were held on the 25th anniversary and 50th anniversary, now it should be again held on 75th anniversary while others favour holding of the 60th anniversary.

UNI