Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, after opposing the setting up of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), has taken similar exception to certain provisions in draft Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR)-Bill, 2011.
The chief minister, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleged that the proposed bill attempted to transfer certain powers to the Union government.
“Regulation of mines and mineral development is basically a state subject. Under Entry 54 of List-I, the Union government has been given limited legislative powers to control only to such extent as the regulation of mines and minerals development. However, the proposed Bill makes an attempt to transfer certain powers and functions now being exercised by the states to the Central government on its instrumentality,” Mr Patnaik alleged in the letter.
***
Jaitley: role of leader of house slowly declining
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, May 20
The two-day orientation programme for the newly-elected and nominated Rajya Sabha members concluded on Sunday. The programme was inaugurated by chairman M. Hamid Ansari.
Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House Arun Jaitley, while speaking on the “Role of the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition”, said both play an important role in parliamentary democracy and should act as role models. However, Mr Jaitley maintained in the recent years, the role of the Leader of the House has been “gradually declining”.
He also said that disruption is part of parliamentary tactic but it should be resorted to in rarest of the rare cases as its frequent use can become counter-productive.