After Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi promised to take the fight of homebuyers against developers and builders within and outside Parliament, the Government is looking at regional parties to get the Real Estate Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha. The House, which resumes after a four-day break on Tuesday, is likely to witness a confrontation between the Treasury and the Opposition over the Real Estate Bill. The Opposition is also expected to take up the issue of the massive hike in fuel prices.
On Saturday, after meeting homebuyers from the NCR he Congress vice-president intensified the party’s attack on the Modi Government, accusing it of working against middle class homebuyers by “diluting” the Bill and making it “pro-builders”. However, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien, who has moved a calling attention notice on the subject for Tuesday, has objected to Rahul’s attack on the issue saying he was amused that someone is trying to hog the spotlight.
“All Opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha united five days ago to send the Real Estate Bill to a Select Committee... Amused that someone is trying to hog the spotlight,” O’Brien said. While the Congress’ opposition to the Bill has become even more aggressive in the last four-five days, the Government too seems to be working to garner the support of some regional parties to pass the Bill. The Government has been insisting that the Bill is aimed at regulating and promoting the real estate sector and protecting the interest of consumers.
Facing a number crunch in the Rajya Sabha, the Government was forced to defer the Bill last Wednesday after the Opposition insisted on referring it to a Select Committee of Parliament. Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had then said that the Bill should be deferred to allow the Government time to have more consultations with parties and had promised to bring it back to the House.