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New Delhi, Aug. 17: The cabinet today again deferred a bill to introduce options trading in commodities after rail minister Mukul Roy reiterated Trinamul’s demand for more consultations.
Government sources said the bill may have been deferred as food minister K.V. Thomas, whose department moved the proposal, was not present at the meeting.
But sources close to the minister said it had been put off because of Trinamul opposition. Aware of the government’s intention, Thomas, who was unwell, did not attend the meeting.
Trinamul has opposed the Forward Contract Regulation Act (Amendment) Bill on grounds that it would encourage speculation in commodities and lead to price rise.
Last month, when the bill was to be taken up by the cabinet, rail minister Roy had sent a letter to the Prime Minister urging the government to undertake more consultations before approving the bill.
Sources said Roy lodged his party’s protest today, too. He said the Centre should not push it when many states and parties were opposed to it.
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