Insurance Bill introduced in LS amid opposition

A key economic reform bill, providing for raising the FDI cap in insurance sector to 49%, was introduced in Lok Sabha today amid stiff opposition by Left and TMC.

The Insurance Laws (Amendment) bill, 2015, seeks to replace an ordinance issued by the government earlier, which had come under sharp attack from various quarters.

The bill seeks to amend the Insurance Act, 1938 and the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Act 1972 and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.

It provides for raising FDI cap in insurance sector from 26% to 49%.

The bill, which has been pending for long, was introduced by Minister of state for Finance Jayant Sinha after the Division of Votes, pushed for by Left and TMC. 131 votes were polled in favour and 45 against.

Left and TMC members contended that the House has no legislative competence as similar bill is pending in the Upper House.

The bill is pending in Rajya Sabha. A bid to withdraw it from the Upper House last week was scuttled by opposition.

CPI-M leader P Karunakaran as also his party colleague A Sampath said the government has "no right or power" to bring the bill as an identical bill is pending in the Rajya Sabha and has not been disposed of yet.

Saugata Roy (TMC) said that in Parliamentary history in India, a bill has never been introduced in one House while an identical one is pending in the other House.

He said his party opposed raising the FDI cap in the sector, but he will not raise the issue at the introduction stage.