NCP not to oppose Trai Act amendment Bill in Parliament

Calls upon Centre to be cautious in allowing 49% investments in defence sector

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a key ally of the Congress, on Saturday said it wouldn't oppose a Bill to amend the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) Act in Parliament. Announcing the party's stand, which is contrary to that of the Congress, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the amendment was for retired bureaucrat Nripendra Misra to be appointed principal secretary to the prime minister, not for his appointment to any private company.

"NCP will not oppose the Trai Act amendment Bill. There are instances in which retired bureaucrats have rejoined the government, the recent case being that of former prime minister Manmohan Singh's principal secretary and, subsequently, advisor, T K A Nair," Pawar told reporters.

On the government's proposal to increase the cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence from 26 per cent to 49 per cent, Pawar said a decision in this regard had to be taken cautiously. "The government will have to be selective and cautious to allow 49 per cent FDI in research, Defence Research and Development Organisation and other sensitive areas, in the larger interest of the country," he said. He also supported the government's move to promote investment in the infrastructure sector.

Pawar downplayed the income tax notice to the Congress in connection with transactions related to the National Herald newspaper. He reminded the Congress that during the United Progressive Alliance government's second term, the NCP, too, had received an income tax notice to explain its stand on the party fund and its expenses.

On the Congress's demand for the post of leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Pawar said six NCP MPs had signed a joint letter to the Lok Sabha speaker in this regard. He recalled in the past, he had become leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly after he, along with other opposition members, submitted a letter to the speaker. "Leader of Opposition is an institution and it needs to be conserved, as this is party to key decisions, including the appointment of the central vigilance commissioner," he said.

He hoped the Lok Sabha speaker would decide on the matter soon.

On the NCP contesting the coming elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in an alliance with the Congress, he said he had already held at least three meetings with the Congress leadership in New Delhi, adding the two parties had an understanding on the matter. "However, the final decision on a poll alliance will be taken at the central level; it cannot be possible at the state level," he said.

On call given by NCP state chief Sunil Tatkare and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar to seek 144 seats from the Congress party or go solo in the assembly poll, Pawar said he is the boss and the policy decision in this regard will be taken collectively.

Pawar said the central leaders of the Congress had asked him to lead the Congress-NCP alliance in the Maharashtra Assembly polls. He added when this was proposed at a meeting with Congress leaders, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan wasn't present.

On Friday, Chavan had said he wasn't informed of the party's suggestion that Pawar lead the alliance during the state elections.