'Land Acquisition Bill to be introduced in monsoon session'

Chandigarh, Jul 9: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal today (Jul 9) said the Land Acquisition Bill would be introduced in the coming monsoon session of Parliament.

"It (The Land Acquisition Bill) will be introduced in the monsoon session," said Bansal when he was asked when the Bill would be tabled.

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh had promised that the Land Acquisition Bill when passed would be in favour of farmers.

Bansal also said that the Lokpal Bill would also be introduced in the coming monsoon session of Parliament.

Asked about the Cabinet reshuffle, Bansal refused to make any comment but said, "you ask this question to the Prime Minister."

Asked about providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and state Assemblies, Bansal said that consensus among political parties on giving reservation to women had not been reached.

"Unfortunately not," he replied when asked if consensus among parties have reached with regard to Women Reservation Bill.

However, he said that "the Centre was keen for giving reservation to women." "(Lok Sabha) Speaker has held a meeting recently with the political parties but there were some reservations by some of the parties," he said.

"I suppose, she will be meeting them (political parties) individually and try to cajole them, woo them for consensus," he said on the sidelines of a function organised by Public Relations Council of India.

PTI