NEW DELHI: The conditional access system issue will be reintroduced in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) on Thursday, the information and broadcasting ministry announced this evening.

There is still no word as yet though whether the government has managed to work out a consensus on the contentious matter. It was because I&B minister Sushma Swaraj was not sure of getting a consensus to ensure passage through the Rajya Sabha the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002, that it was not introduced last week.

Swaraj decided to withdraw the bill for wider consultations last week after it became clear that Opposition leaders (with the tacit support of some influential ruling party members) would not allow the bill's passage without wider discussions.

According to the information available, the left party CPM's Nilotpaul Basu is slated to speak on the amendment being sought by the government in the Cable TV Networks Regulation Act, 1995.

The amendments to the Act were passed in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) on 15 May through a voice vote.


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