Indian PM parries queries on Liberhan report tabling in Parliament

New Delhi, July 1 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Wednesday parried questions on the issue of the
government tabling the Liberhan Commission report on the Babri
Masjid demolition in Parliament.

Singh did not reply to queries put by reporters on the
issue after he emerged from an all-party meeting convened by
Speaker Meira Kumar on the eve of the Budget Session.

The Prime Minister merely said the government was
looking forward to the session with "great expectation" and
expressed the hope that the House will function smoothly.

The meeting witnessed demands for early tabling of
the Liberhan Commission report.

RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said people want
the report to be tabled in Parliament along with the Action
Taking Report (ATR).

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is understood to have
suggested that the government should exercise caution while
implementing the report.

The Prime Minister said he believed that all political
parties want Parliament to function "effectively and smoothly"
and on behalf of the government, he extended "fullest
cooperation" in the smooth functioning of Parliament.

"Parliament is the forum where debate can take place.
It will be our sincere desire that Parliament functions
smoothly," he said.

On whether the Liberhan Commission report will be
tabled in the House, the Speaker said, "government will
prepare the ATR on Liberhan Commission report and it will
take some time. Then it will be tabled."

Kumar said, "we had a meeting of all party leaders. We
have assurance from all leaders that they will cooperate with
me in running the House smoothly and conducting the business
in an orderly fashion."

Talking about the business of the House, she said the
Railway and the Union budgets have to be passed along with
that for Jharkhand, which is now under President's rule.
Besides there are some government business, she said.

Asked about the Women's Reservation Bill, she favoured
a consensus among various political parties on it.

The Speaker also urged parties not to waste the time
of Parliament.

To a query whether the House should have more than
100 sittings in a year, she said all leaders feel so, but is
yet to happen. "In future we will try to implement this," she
said.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani,
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and JD(S) chief H D Deve
Gowda were present at the meeting. PTI