PM reminded of parliamentary compulsions.

The one message that the Congress party wants the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to take heed of, following the tumultuous first phase of this year’s Budget session, is that the PMO should be more helpful in facilitating political management for the party.

Click here for Cloud Computing

Also Read   Related Stories News Now - Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan, UBS charged with derivatives fraud - Trinamool pledges support to govt - China unyielding on yuan as US raises pressure - Opposition dharna in Assembly over private varsity bills - Mamata promises to support Civil Liability Bill - Kanika Datta: Entitlement and prejudice

Also Read   Related Stories News Now - Wall Street opens higher on Greek deal - Oil cos seek compensation for losses on petrol - Centre for 6% road tax on cars, two-wheelers - RBI raises bank rate to 9.5% - Axis Bank reappoints Shikha Sharma as Managing Director More

Despite the government bending over backwards to explain that the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages bill was a mandatory legislation — no matter which country India wanted to engage with in nuclear commerce — the party appears to be unconvinced.

Questions are being raised among the Congress brass why the government needs to make overtures to the US through the bill when the US did not show enough concern for India after the 26/11 terror attack.

“Even after the 26/11 terror attack, where Pakistani handlers masterminded and controlled the entire attack, the US has not stopped its supply of sophisticated weapons to the Pak army. It is also pressurising New Delhi to restart the composite dialogue process with Pakistan. In this situation, why do we need to pander to the US by pushing the Civil Nuclear Liability bill?” asked a senior Congress leader.

Government managers, however, vehemently denied allegations that the Manmohan Singh government brought this bill under US pressure. Minister of State (PMO) Prithviraj Chavan said Russian and French companies have also indicated that without a liability cap on the operator, it would be very difficult for them to do business with Nuclear Power Corporation of India to build reactors.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to go to the US in mid-April. On Monday, the government had planned to table the Nuclear Liabilities Bill in Lok Sabha but stiff resistance from opposition parties finally forced the government to withdraw the bill.

After the major embarrassment, there has been a debate within the functionaries of the government on whether it was the correct move to try and table such an important bill on Monday — when several MPs were absent. Most of them had failed to return following their weekend visits to their respective constituencies. While some tried to find flaw in the tactics of the UPA floor managers, others pointed out that the PMO was in a hurry to see the bill passed in the Parliament.

After the Sharm-al-Sheikh episode, where India allowed Pakistan to mention its concerns over Balochistan for the first time in a joint statement, a section of the party feels the PM should move more cautiously on the issues relating to the US and Pakistan.

The PM will get two opportunities to meet his Pakistani counterpart — in the US and then again at the SAARC summit in Bhutan in April. But the party brass feels there should not be any summit meetings involving the two PMs in either of these venues. “Secretary-level talks have just resumed. Let this continue for some time and then we can decide on the next level of dialogues with Pakistan.”

The party managers are also blaming the PMO for spoiling the well-planned tactics to split the opposition unity over the women’s bill. The introduction of the Women’s reservation bill had shattered the opposition unity. With the BJP and the Left joining hands with the Congress-led government to pass the bill, the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janta Dal and Janata Dal (United) were completely sidelined.

Soon after, the Nuclear Liability Bill, however, provided an opportunity to the opposition to set aside their differences and attack the government unitedly. “Whatever we had achieved through the Women’s Bill was ruined by the Nuclear Liability Bill,” said a senior leader of the Congress.

New Ipad Application :Business Standard's all new IPad App Click here to download for free Other Stories      - Wall Street opens higher on Greek deal - Oil cos seek compensation for losses on petrol - Centre for 6% road tax on cars, two-wheelers - RBI raises bank rate to 9.5% - Axis Bank reappoints Shikha Sharma as Managing Director

Tags : Congress | PMO | Manmohan Singh | Civil Nuclear Liabilities Bill | Parliament | Prithviraj Chavan | Nuclear Power Corporation | Women?s Bill   Read Business news in  Advertisements -  Now property search gets more exciting than ever before! -  High Growth Business Opportunities in Africa - Register to explore -  Office 365 for professionals and small businesses. -  Are You Serious About Your Future? Click here to know more -  Financial Learning now made easier and more convenient. -  Earn fuel worth Rs.2400 with Citi -  India's No. 1 Property Site. Click here to know more.. -  Get 5% cashback on telephone bills with Citi -  Exim Bank Conclave on India - Africa Project Partnership. Know more.. -  Be part of it The World's Largest Aircraft. -  Creating Wealth made simple the SIP way. Know more.. -  Only Developer to give a guarantee on time space & rate. -  Buy Your Property with Our Triple Guarantee in India. -  Improve Patient Care & Experience. Click here to know more -  Win a Business Class Ticket to Europe..Know more.. -   Introduce a New Automotive Luxury Car.. know more -  Health is Wealth..... Insurance + Savings... Know More...