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Bill to limit size of ministries in small states proposed
New Delhi, Aug 08: Government today said in Lok Sabha it proposed to bring forth a law to limit the size of ministries in smaller states to usher in political stability and to further strengthen the anti-defection law.
New Delhi, Aug 08: Government today said in Lok Sabha it proposed to bring forth a law to limit the size of ministries in smaller states to usher in political stability and to further strengthen the anti-defection law.
"There should be check on the number of ministers in a government like in Delhi and Pondicherry which are union territories but have assemblies. This will help bring political stability and benefit smaller states," Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said.
He was replying to a brief debate on Constitution (99th amendment) Bill, 2003, seeking to protect the rights of non-tribals in the newly-created Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) in Assam. Observing that a decision on establishing the BTC was taken after 21 rounds of tripartite talks involving the Centre, the Assam government and the Bodo Liberation Tigers, Advani asserted that no changes in the boundaries of states in the Northeast would take place, despite pressures from various quarters.
On the Congress charge that the NSCN(I-M) in Nagaland was "terrorising" its workers, he said that Centre was within its legitimate rights to take necessary action wherever it was required.
Referring to the on-going peace negotiations with major Naga insurgent group NSCN(I-M), the Deputy Prime Minister said, "We will like the NSCN(I-M) as well as NSCN (Khaplang) to participate in fostering peace in the Northeast".
The bill was adopted unanimously by 361 votes in favour and none against.
He was replying to a brief debate on Constitution (99th amendment) Bill, 2003, seeking to protect the rights of non-tribals in the newly-created Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) in Assam. Observing that a decision on establishing the BTC was taken after 21 rounds of tripartite talks involving the Centre, the Assam government and the Bodo Liberation Tigers, Advani asserted that no changes in the boundaries of states in the Northeast would take place, despite pressures from various quarters.
On the Congress charge that the NSCN(I-M) in Nagaland was "terrorising" its workers, he said that Centre was within its legitimate rights to take necessary action wherever it was required.
Referring to the on-going peace negotiations with major Naga insurgent group NSCN(I-M), the Deputy Prime Minister said, "We will like the NSCN(I-M) as well as NSCN (Khaplang) to participate in fostering peace in the Northeast".
The bill was adopted unanimously by 361 votes in favour and none against.