NEW DELHI: The case of the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2002, is getting curiouser. Yesterday, though it was listed as part of the day's business it did not come up for discussion. It is not on today's listed business and will not come up for the rest of the week either.

It now transpires that information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj decided to withdraw the bill for wider consultations 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.

The draft is now likely to be referred to a House Select Committee before it is brought up for passage.

Earlier indications were that the CAS bill would continue to be listed every day till it was passed.

The Hindu Business Line reported that parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan yesterday informed the Opposition members that the Bill - which was to be moved by Swaraj in the afternoon - had been taken off the list of business for the week.

The amendments to the Act were passed in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) on 15 May through a voice vote. The I&B ministry will now have to try and evolve a consensus with the Opposition party members before it can get the bill cleared.


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