Chidambaram for debate on Finance Bill in Rajya Sabha

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Tuesday expressed hope that the Finance Bill for the 2013-14 fiscal will be discussed and debated in the Rajya Sabha.

"I hope the Finance Bill is debated in the Rajya Sabha and not passed in a similar manner (as in the Lok Sabha)," Chidambaram said, talking to reporters outside parliament after the Finance Bill was passed in the lower house without discussion.

The Finance Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha without a debate Tuesday after an agreement on this between the government and the opposition.

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been stalling parliament proceedings demanding the resignation of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Chidambaram also said that the financial business was not over as a host of financial bills remain pending passage.

"The financial business in not over, there is the Pension Bill, the Insurance Bill and many other bills," Chidambaram told reporters.

"Those bills should be taken up and debated," he said.

He also defended the hike in excise on diesel saying it was a way to gather revenue from the rich who drive diesel-driven sports utility vehicles (SUVs).