Wednesday, March 23 2005 18:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Opposition BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Mar 23, 2005) charged the Government with "inaction" and a "casual" attitude on Legislative matters even as it attacked the Left parties with compromising on key issues in lieu of "small mercies".

Reacting to the Government's decision to refer the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, BJP spokesman V K Malhotra said the Pension Ordinance had to be replaced by a Bill before April 8 but with current session adjourning for recess tomorrow, the Ordinance will lapse.

"This reflects the Government's inaction. The Pension scheme has been in force since January 1, 2004. An Ordinance is brought in circumstances where immediate action is necessary. There was no such urgency for a Pension Ordinance, but now this Ordinance along with the one on ITC have lapsed and needs to be re-promulgated. This shows how casually the Government is taking such matters," he said.

Referring to the passage of the Patent (Amendment) Bill, he said, "it showed how the Left was contented with the small mercies it got from the Government".

"If they are invited for a breakfast or meeting once in a month and if some Ordinance like the one on pension is promulgated, they sacrifice their concerns. There are 30-40 grey areas about which they are silent. They are celebrating false victory and betraying people and workers," he said.